Social, personal and health education is a new subject which is included for the very first time in the recently revised primary school curriculum. It is designed to be delivered in three ways – through the attitudes, values and practices conveyed in a positive school climate and atmosphere, through integration with other subject areas in a cross-curricular approach and through dedicated curricular time. It is recommended that a minimum of half-an-hour a week would be dedicated to teaching SPHE. Among the aims of the SPHE programme are (1) to promote the personal development and wellbeing of the child and (2) to enable the child to make informed decisions and choices about the social, personal and health dimensions of life both now and in the future. Pupils are taught to be aware of and to respect the various cultural, religious, ethnic or other groups that exist in their communities. They are also taught self-protection and safety skills such as identifying and avoiding situations and people who make them feel threatened and accepting an increasing degree of responsibility for their own safety and wellbeing as they get older. They are encouraged to be assertive, to know when to seek help and to confide in people whom they consider to be trustworthy such as their parents and teachers.
At second level, civic, social and political education prepares students for active participatory citizenship. The syllabus is based on a number of central concepts which collectively inform and clarify the concept of citizenship. These include democracy, rights and responsibilities, human dignity and law. The syllabus helps students to develop their ability to explore, analyse and evaluate. It enables students to become skilled and practised in moral and critical appraisal and capable of making decisions and judgments, based on human rights and social responsibilities. In its methodology and assessment procedures there is a significant bias towards the application of practical skills required for participatory citizenship. Thus, students are equipped to confront such issues as the work of groups who might seek to impose their beliefs on others by illegal means or through the use of undue pressure or duress.
If certain extremist groups, cults, sects or religious movements seek to impose their beliefs on others by illegal means, undue pressure or duress they do not benefit from constitutional protection under Article 44 of the Constitution and may be prosecuted under the criminal code if their actions constitute an offence.
