Vol. 513 No. 6
411 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science the education programme provided in primary and post primary schools to target young people who could be susceptible to drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3037/00]
The programme of substance misuse prevention education for primary schools, "Walk Tall", was developed by my Department in consultation with the partners in education and with relevant Government Departments and other agencies over a two year period and finalised by the end of 1998. The development and implementation of the programme in a small pilot group of primary schools was evaluated independently with positive outcomes. As a result it was decided to disseminate the programme to primary schools generally over a two year period. This dissemination commenced in January 1999 and continues during the current year. At the end of 1999 the programme had been introduced to approximately 1150 schools.
The dissemination process includes one-day staff training seminars for the teaching staff of individual schools organised by a national project officer and a team of six teacher trainers. Detailed educational resource materials for each class level in primary schools are provided free of charge to schools as their staffs participate in the training provided.
At post-primary level the substance misuse prevention education programme, "On My Own Two Feet", was developed by my Department in consultation with the partners in education and relevant agencies over a two-year period prior to 1995. The development and implementation of this programme was evaluated independently in a small pilot group of post-primary schools with positive outcomes. Since early 1995 the process of dissemination of this programme to post-primary schools generally has continued. At the end of 1999 approximately 570 schools, representing 75% of the total of these schools, provided this programme.
Educational resource materials are provided free of charge to post-primary schools participating in the provision of the "On My Own Two Feet" programme for students. The dissemination is also supported by the organisation and provision of in-service teacher training courses for teachers. The dissemination process continues during the current year.
The "Walk Tall" and "On My Own Two Feet" deal with alcohol and tobacco as well as the use of other substances, which are commonly considered as drugs. They are designed for educational use with students generally, at primary and post-primary levels respectively, all of whom are likely to face decisions regarding the use of mood-altering substances during their lives. The programmes will be integrated into social, personal and health education, which will be introduced over the next three to five years as part of the revised curricula for primary schools and the junior cycle of post-primary schools.
