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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 7

Written Answers. - Education Programmes.

Micheál Martin

Question:

111 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she has satisfied herself with the contents of the school programmes on relationships and sexuality for the various age levels; if she will publish these programmes; and if she will give details of any feedback received by her Department from teachers and parents concerning these programmes. [17807/96]

Interim curriculum guidelines for the programme of relationships and sexuality education have been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The process of developing the programme has involved extensive consultation with the partners in education through a special implementation group which I established and which continues to meet regularly.

I am satisfied that the interim guidelines are appropriate and have been developed to meet the needs of pupils of all ages in schools.

I have no plans to formally publish the guidelines. However, the guidelines for junior infants to second class were disseminated to all primary school staffs at training seminars during the summer term of the 1995-96 school year. The completed guidelines, to sixth class, are currently being distributed in the context of training for all primary teachers and are available from my Department. Guidelines for post-primary schools have been circulated at information seminars for post-primary principals and will be distributed to post-primary teachers at their training days and will be available from my Department.

Each managerial authority at primary and post-primary levels will receive a copy of the guidelines shortly. In addition, following their dissemination as part of the training process, copies of the interim guidelines are available to interested persons on request.

Feedback on the guidelines has come from a number of sources. A selected number of urban and rural primary and post-primary schools are involved in pre-testing the guidelines and classroom materials. This consultative process has proven very beneficial to the overall development of the programme. An evaluation process was built into the teacher training programme attended by 20,000 primary teachers between April and June 1996. Specific comments were invited on the interim guidelines and the response was very positive.
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