Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
490. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on linking community and youth services with schools in a local area in relation to awareness programmes dealing with the dangers of addiction to gambling. [32672/19]
View answerThrough their primary and post primary education students are equipped with the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make life choices. Schools' efforts should be complemented by students' parents, families and community. Schools develop positive links with parents by involving them in the development of school policies, which support the development of these key skills and knowledge.
The syllabus for Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) at primary and post-primary level provides a framework for teachers and students to explore issues of concern to their personal wellbeing and development. SPHE is a mandatory curriculum subject at all levels, in all primary schools and in post-primary up to Junior Cycle. At Senior Cycle an SPHE Framework published by National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is available to schools to use.
SPHE is designed as an enabling curriculum. Schools are enabled to develop an SPHE curriculum, which is informed, by the needs and concerns of students, parents and guardians. While gambling is not mentioned specifically in the SPHE syllabus, it fits readily under the Making Decisions strand at primary level, and in topics and modules which explore making decisions, and decisions and influences, at post-primary level. This allows teachers and students to explore issues, which relate to personal decision making, within SPHE lessons, in a context and age appropriate manner.
It is a matter for the management of schools to consider which programmes may best suit their individual needs, having due regard to Circular 0042/18 for primary schools or Circular 0043/2018 for post primary schools. These circulars set out best practice guidance for schools in the use of programmes and/or external facilitators in supporting the curriculum.
