Jim O'Callaghan
Question:510. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied). [16855/23]
View answerTuesday, 18 April 2023
Questions (510)
Written answers
A response to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy issued on 17 April.
The Deputy may wish to note that the Programme for Government commits to the development of inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools. Work to implement this commitment is ongoing, building on a major review of RSE in schools, completed in 2019 by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). he review involved students, parents, teachers, school leaders, researchers and organisations, with a view to gaining a full appreciation of the nature of young peoples’ needs and experience of RSE and this included responses from nearly 8,000 parents. An updated Junior Cycle specification has been developed for introduction in schools this coming September, and work is ongoing on an updated specification for Senior Cycle.
The NCCA has recently commenced work on the curricular area of Wellbeing in primary schools, which includes SPHE and RSE. The development process for the new specification will include research and consultation. Consultation is a core feature of the NCCA’s work in developing curricula with a variety of voices reflected throughout the curriculum development process for all subjects. Members of Subject Development Groups are nominated by the partners in education and include representatives of teachers, school management, parents and other stakeholders in education, including co-opted persons with expertise in the area.
It is intended the public consultation on the draft Primary Wellbeing specification will occur next year, with the intention of introducing the new specification in schools in 2025.
SPHE and RSE teaching and learning is an important and sensitive area and I would encourage parents, students, teachers and all other stakeholders to take part in this public consultation as this work progresses.