Ivor Callely
Question:215 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the resources that are available to assist schools in their educational programmes on sexually transmitted diseases; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Sex Education Programmes.
My Department issued guidelines on the development of sex-relationships education to the authorities of post-primary schools in February 1987. According to these guidelines the arrangements for programmes of sex-relationships education are for individual schools to decide in consultation with parents.
With regard to the specific topic of HIV-AIDS, my Department, in co-operation with the Department of Health, has prepared a detailed package of educational resource materials on HIV-AIDS. This package was issued, free of charge, to all post-primary schools in October 1990. The issue of the package was followed by a series of 27 in-service days organised by the two Departments and held during the two years following. In addition, there is an annual summer school for teachers on the topic of HIV-AIDS and drug abuse, organised by the Departments of Education and Health in co-operation with the Mater Dei Counselling Centre.
I have announced the establishment of an expert advisory group to advise me on relationships and sex education with the following terms of reference: (a) to identify the existing provision for relationships and sex education in order to provide a background for the group's work; (b) to provide guidelines for schools on the process by which management, staff and parents are consulted and involved as the school clarifies, specifies and discloses its policy on relationships and sex education; (c) to provide information and teaching materials to support teachers and schools in the development of a relationships and sex education programme — this programme will be in the context of existing school ethos and will be appropriate to the physical, social and emotional development stages of pupils of different age groups in primary and post-primary schools; (d) to advise on appropriate in-career development provision; (e) to report within two months.