Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
49. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way schools are implementing well-being in post-primary schools; if an audit-evaluation has been undertaken on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24843/14]
View answerMy Department, along with the Department of Health and the HSE, jointly published 'Well-Being in Post- Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention' in 2013. The guidelines provide practical advice to post-primary schools on how they can promote mental health and well-being in an integrated manner within the school environment.
These guidelines complement a number of other measures which support positive well-being among post primary students. These encompass, inter alia, the inclusion of 'Well Being' as one of the eight key principles in the new Junior Cycle Framework, and the development of a new short course in Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE). The new short course will be available to post primary schools from September, to implement, should they wish to do so, as part of their Junior Cycle Framework.Post primary schools are also encouraged to participate in the 'Health Promoting Schools' initiative, which is supported by the Department of Health. This European-wide programme aims to strengthen schools' capacity to be a healthy setting for learning and working by focusing at whole-school level on all the conditions that affect health and well-being.
The results from our second Lifeskills survey which were published by my Department this January indicate that approximately 37% of respondent post primary schools are currently in the Health Promoting Schools initiative or are in the process of joining. My Department is working with the Department of Health to increase participation among post primary schools in this initiative.
As part of its ongoing programme of thematic evaluation into aspects of school quality, my Department's Inspectorate is currently developing an inspection model to evaluate primary and post primary schools' provision for students' well-being.
