Helen Keogh
Ceist:250 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education the position of a programme of social, personal, health and sex education in schools; and the plans, if any, she has for a national programme for primary schools. [1467/94]
Written Answers. - School Programme.
I recently published the Report of the Expert Advisory Group on Relationships and Sexuality Education.
The Advisory Group expressed the view that social, personal and health education programmes need to be a core part of the curriculum right through primary and post-primary schooling. The group saw relationships as a central part of this programme and that sexuality education should take place within this context.
I have forwarded the report of the Expert Advisory Group on Relationships and Sexuality Education to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. I wait the views of the council.
In the case of primary schools, the NCCA is currently engaged in a review of the entire primary school curriculum. Expert course committees representative of all primary education interests have been established to look at the various areas of the curriculum including social, personal, health and sex education.
Areas relating to social and health education are being revised by committee for: (a) physical and health education which is a working group on health education; and (b) social, environmental and scientific education which is a working group on personal education.
On receipt of the NCCA's proposals I will finalise arrangements for a revised primary school curriculum.