Dan Neville
Question:417 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the details of the programme on exploring masculinity which was recently published. [21990/00]
Written Answers. - Transition Year Projects.
This programme is a social and personal development programme for transition year and senior cycle boys. It was developed, over a five-year period, by second level teachers, working with officials of my Department. It covers a wide range of issues that are relevant to the lives of boys and young men and puts them in the context of the changes that are affecting the lives of men and women in the world of today – economic, legislative and social. Among the topics dealt with in the programme are work, in all its forms; power relations, including bullying; relationships; health and sexuality; violence; sport; equality legislation.
It is based on recommendations from extensive research in this country and is also a response to current legislation in this country and in the European Union, as well as the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The programme has been prepared in the form of a manual and teaching materials for teachers and copies of the publication have been made available on request to schools and other educational bodies considering offering the programme in their schools or elsewhere. Schools are free to offer the programme or to use it as resource material, subject, as with any other similar programme, to the agreement of parents and the pupils concerned.
The complete publication is available for consultation by interested parties in any of the 30 education centres located throughout the country.