Book excerpt: This book examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on education in sub-Saharan African countries. It looks at the situation at both macro and micro levels and emphasizes the need to react quickly and to institutionalize the response of education systems to the negative consequences of the pandemic. Drawing on studies of a few countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the first part of the book discusses the practicability of implementing a range of indicators for monitoring the impact of HIV/AIDS, specifically on the demand for supply, management, and quality of education at all levels. It underlines the difficulties of assessing and monitoring the impact on demand, supply, and quality in many of the worst affected countries in Africa. The second part focuses on the essential role that the education system has to play in preventing the expansion and mitigating the impact of the epidemic. A range of responses is developed, drawing on the experience of various national and international organizations. This part also presents an overview of the education system in several countries that have attempted programs to impart life skills to children and young people. It considers the problems of evaluating such programs in light of cost effectiveness. (Author/WFA).