Peadar Tóibín
Question:352. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if she and/or her Department will meet with a person (details supplied) to discuss the new RSE curriculum. [40316/23]
View answerWednesday, 20 September 2023
Questions (352)
Written answers
Access to Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an important right for students. This is reflected in the Programme for Government, which states that this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) across primary and post-primary schools. SPHE is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. RSE is required at all levels in schools, from primary through to Senior Cycle.
The role of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is to advise me, as Minister for Education, in matters relating to the curriculum for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools and the assessment procedures employed in schools and examinations on subjects that are part of the curriculum.
The work currently ongoing by the NCCA to update the curricula in SPHE and RSE follows on from a 2019 review of RSE across primary and post-primary. An updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification was published by the NCCA in May and is being rolled out in schools from this month. The finalisation of the specification followed on from extensive public consultation on a draft specification in 2022. The Senior Cycle draft SPHE specification is currently available for public consultation until 18 October 2023. A background paper was already published for consultation in October last year. Work on a Primary specification has now begun also, and that is expected to be available for public consultation in 2024, before being finalised in 2025.
Given that the NCCA's public consultation processes are ongoing, it would not be appropriate for separate meetings to take place between my Department and individuals or groups. These public consultations provide the appropriate route by which all those with an interest in this area, including the individual referred to by the Deputy, may make their views known, in order to inform the finalisation of specifications by the NCCA for submission to me as Minister. As such, I am not available to meet the group the Deputy refers to.
I would greatly encourage this group, and indeed anyone who has an interest in this vital and sensitive issue, to take part in available consultations in order to make their voices heard in the curriculum redevelopment process.