The HIV and AIDS Life Skills Education Programme finds its policy mandate from the National Policy on HIV and AIDS for Learners and Educators in Schools (1999). The programme was initiated in 2000 and is implemented in all public institutions with a focus on learners in Grades 1-12. The main objectives of the life skills programme are to integrate HIV and AIDS and relevant life skills into the school curriculum as a strategy to prevent and mitigate the spread of HIV infection, and to provide care and support for learners that are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. In this regard, a cross-curricular approach has been adopted. The Life Skills and HIV and AIDS Education is primarily located in the Life Orientation learning area/subject with some aspects of the programme integrated into other learning area/subjects.

The HIV and AIDS Life Skills Education Programme focuses on mainly curricular activities as per the following focal areas:

• Educators are trained to implement Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and TB  programmes for learners through the curriculum
• Procurement and distribution of NCS and CAPS compliant LTSM on HIV and TB
• Co-curricular activities on SRH and TB
• Advocacy activities with learners, educators and schools communities on SRH and TB
• Care and support activities for learners and educators.