Jim Mitchell
Question:12 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the targets he has set for the drug awareness programmes in schools; and if he has satisfied himself that they are succeeding. [7251/00]
Other Questions. - Substance Misuse Prevention Programmes.
The dissemination of the substance misuse prevention education programme for primary schools, Walk Tall, commenced in January 1999. The target was to disseminate the programme to primary schools generally over a period of two years. At the end of February 2000 the programme had been introduced to approximately 1,470 primary schools, 45% of the total number. The dissemination process continues during the current year. The process will be reviewed in May and if it appears that the target needs to be revised it is my intention that provision will be made to continue the dissemination in 2001 to ensure all primary schools will have the opportunity to introduce the programme. The implementation of the Walk Tall programme was evaluated independently during its two year development phase in 26 primary schools. As the evaluation outcomes were positive it was decided to introduce the programme to primary schools generally.
At post-primary level the substance misuse prevention education programme, On My Own Two Feet, had been introduced in approximately 570 second level schools, representing 75% of the total, by the end of 1999. The dissemination of this programme commenced in early 1995 and has continued each year since. No particular target timescale was set for the dissemination of this programme to post-primary schools generally. The implementation of the On My Own Two Feet programme was evaluated independently during its development phase in a small group of post-primary schools. As the outcome of this evaluation was positive it was decided to introduce the programme to post-primary schools generally.
The feedback from schools availing of the Walk Talk and On My Own Two Feet programmes is favourable in terms of meeting student needs and the value of the in-service training support provided. Following on a report from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment it is intended that social, personal and health education, including substance misuse prevention, will be phased in as part of the core curriculum at junior cycle over a three year period. While, on the basis of experience to date, these programmes are succeeding, I agree that they need to be reviewed at regular intervals.
As the Minister is aware, in terms of drug use among teenagers, Ireland has gone to the top of the European league having been bottom in the 1980s. Seventeen per cent of 14 and 15 year olds have used drugs in the last month while over 34% of all teenagers have used them. Against this background has the Minister conducted any surveys of children in schools where this programme is being put in place to obtain their views on its relevance? I have done spot checks in schools in my constituency to find remarkable disinterest in its quality. The Minister said that the outcome of the evaluation was positive. What outcomes will he be measuring and when does he expect to report back to the House on the performance of the programme based on those outcome indicators?
The independent evaluation of the Walk Tall programme was carried out by Dr. Mark Morgan of St. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra. He has conducted evaluations and survey work both for the ESRI and the European Commission.
Dr. Morgan's major conclusions were that the rationale for the programme was in line with what was regarded as effective approaches in other countries and that the programme itself was suitable for use with children generally. He also concluded that teachers found that the resource materials were very satisfactory and that the training and other support provided was satisfactory also.
The development of On My Own Two Feet was evaluated independently by Dr. Morgan. His conclusions were broadly similar to those outlined for Walk Tall. However, having conducted a comparative study of post-primary students participating in the programme and of a control group not participating, he concluded that the participating students had significantly less favourable attitudes to the recreational use of substances than the non-participating students. The longer-term influences of programmes such as these are not known. There are many changing social and cultural influences outside the schools.
The Minister has now exceeded the one minute reply time.
Would the Minister accept that it is remarkable that while teachers were asked if they were happy with the programme, students were not asked how they found them? Would he agree that in an area related to the behaviour of individual students, the key views are those of the pupils at whose behaviour the programme is directed? Would he, therefore, undertake proper surveys of the reaction and attitude of students to the programmes which are in place? People are rightly fearful of the present levels of drug use among teenagers in Ireland. They have rocketed to the top of the European league. That is a worrying trend and it seems there is a need for a more serious effort to address this from the viewpoint of students.
The time for this question is up. We must proceed to Question No. 13.
The Minister might say "yes", that he will.
I agree it is a major problem but I would point out that the expert work is what one must depend on in this case. The indications from the work done at least are helpful and favourable. A further evaluation has just commenced and this evaluation will be ongoing.