Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
58 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of increasing obesity amongst younger persons, she will prioritise physical education and education in nutrition; and if she will allocate funding to these areas. [30541/04]
View answerPhysical education is one of the seven curriculum areas within the primary school curriculum which was revised in 1999. The revised curriculum in PE will be implemented in full with effect from 2006-07 and extensive in-service training in this area is being provided by a full-time support service for all teachers over the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. The curriculum has been structured so as to allow individual schools a high degree of flexibility and choice in the planning of a broad and balanced physical education programme for pupils.
Second level schools should offer a physical education programme based on an approved syllabus with teaching hours registered on the school timetable. The focus of physical education in schools is on the young person's holistic development, stressing personal and social development, physical growth, and motor development. At second level, the phasing in of a revised syllabus at junior cycle level for physical education commenced in September 2003. The second level syllabuses in physical education have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week.
As regards resources, the physical education syllabuses both at primary and second level have been developed on the understanding that facilities available in schools vary. Consequently, they offer flexibility regarding the physical activities undertaken so that each individual school can design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to the school. The provision of new physical education facilities such as PE halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor play areas, along with the improvement of existing facilities, is normally considered within the design brief for building projects at schools. All projects, including those involving the provision of PE facilities, are planned and carried out in the context of available resources and the published criteria for prioritising school building projects. In terms of resources, almost €2 billion has been invested in the period 1998 to 2004 in order to provide modern facilities, including those for PE, in schools.
A curriculum in social personal and health education, SPHE, is a mandatory part of all programmes for primary and junior cycle students, and its implementation is also being assisted by a full-time support service. The programme begins in the infant classes and specifically addresses the need for regular exercise, and examines food and nutrition issues and the need for a balanced diet. The objective is that by fifth and sixth class, students are equipped to take responsibility for making wise food choices and adopting a healthy balanced diet, and in that context, exploring and examining the food pyramid. These issues are continued in second level SPHE and also feature in the biology and home economics syllabuses. The development of an SPHE programme at senior cycle by the national council for curriculum and assessment is under way.
