Grandmothers: A Learning Institution - Basic Education and Policy ...

of millions. On the other hand, some ofthe traditional values, if followed, wouldprevent the spread of the infection. An indepthanalysis of both traditional culturalvalues, and of modern values and behaviorsand how they relate to the HIV epidemic,could prepare children, families, andcommunities to help in decreasing infectionrates and stopping the epidemic.Valuesclarification has become a mandatory partof HIV/AIDS Life Skills Education coursesdesigned to reach school-aged childrenbefore they become exposed to HIV.DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPSBETWEEN GRANDMOTHERS ANDSCHOOLS.Educational research has shown consistentlythat family participation in school activitiessupports student achievement, highergrades, better attendance, avoidance ofgrade repetition, and decreased dropouts.Developing a genuine partnership withgrandmothers could increase their understandingof school programs and furtherstrengthen their support for schooling.Dialogue between schools and familiesreframes the family-school relationship tomake interactions, curriculum, and learninga two-way process.• Encourage families to create homeenvironments that support success inschool.Grandmothers could be the guardians of aplace to do homework and time to dohomework without competing duties.Grandmothers can encourage children todo their homework and ask them to readto them. Grandmothers can encourage literateparents or older children to read toyounger children at home.• Encourage grandmothers, who oftenhave more free time than mothers,to walk children to school to assuretheir safety.If grandmothers accompany children toschool, this can help solve the consistentproblem of children’s safety, particularlythat of girls, in this age of HIV/AIDS.• Identify stories told by grandmothersin the community that relate to thecurriculum and use these stories asteaching tools. Invite these seniorwomen to tell stories in special storytellingsessions at schools or in informalsettings.In many societies, stories and songs areused by grandmothers as tools for communicatingcultural values to the youngergeneration and for stimulating children’s listeningand problem-solving skills.Unfortunately, these important traditionaleducational tools are becoming replacedby “modern” media such as radio and television.Schools can help communities documentthese traditional communicationtools so they are not lost, by engagingboth community leaders and educators indiscussing ways to revitalize their use.Storytelling can increase grandmothers’sense of usefulness. For children, storiesand conversations with grandmothers canstimulate their problem-solving and criticalthinking skills and provide them with oneon-oneor small group interaction that isusually lacking where pupil-teacher ratiosare very high. Grandmothers, or grandfa­GRANDMOTHERS:THE LEARNING INSTITUTION49