Written Answers. - Sex Education in Schools.
Desmond J. O'Malley
Question:
16
Mr. O'Malley
asked the
Minister for Education
the way in which she intends to proceed with relationships and sexuality education in schools during the next school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10242/95]
The circular which I issued to all schools in January proposed that schools would now begin to develop their policies with a view to starting to introduce programmes of Relationships and Sexuality Education into schools in the 1995-96 school year. This proposal received a very large measure of support from the Partners in Education.
In order to assist schools in preparing for the introduction of the programmes, three groups are currently working with my Department.
First, I have asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to develop curriculum guidelines, teaching and learning strategies and assessment-evaluation procedures.
Second, I have established an implementation group, representative of my Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the Partners in Education.
Third, I have established an interdepartmental group, representative of my Department and the Department of Health.
A programme of in-service training in connection with the Relationships and Sexuality Education Programme will be initiated following receipt of the report of the Implementation Group and the guidelines being prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
Adequate in-career development is vital to the success of the relationships and sexuality programme and, indeed, such in-career development programmes have been demanded by the teacher unions. It would be a great shame if the programme of relationships and sexuality education, which has been so warmly received by the partners in education, or the associated in-career development programme, were to be jeopardised by the current industrial relations difficulties.
