Vol. 537 No. 2
397 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the current awareness programmes taking place in second level schools regarding STDs and AIDS; the plans he has to develop these programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15766/01]
Provision has been made for education in STDs and AIDS at all levels within post-primary schools. In 1990, AIDS education resource materials were developed by the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science and disseminated to all schools. Teacher training was offered to all schools over the period 1990-2. These materials continue to be highly valued and used as a resource in teaching about STDs and AIDS.
The interim curriculum and guidelines on relationships and sexuality education, 1996, and the accompanying classroom resource materials make provision for education in STDs and AIDS. This programme has been promoted in schools since 1997 and is delivered at both junior and senior cycles levels. More recently, provision for education in STDs and AIDS has been made within the relationships and sexuality education – RSE – module of social, personal and health education – SPHE – which is currently being introduced on a phased basis at junior cycle level in all post-primary schools. It is intended that all schools will have a junior cycle SPHE programme in place by the end of the 2002-03 school year. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is currently planning for the development of an SPHE curriculum at senior cycle level.
