Vol. 535 No. 2
46 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the specific strategy being followed by his Department to provide young people with life skills and moral education in view of Ireland's high rates of teenage alcohol and drug misuse, high levels of sexual activity and a high incidence of young male suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter [12588/01].
The introduction of social, personal and health education (SPHE), as part of the curriculum at primary and post-primary levels, represents the specific strategy being followed by my Department to provide young people with life skills and moral education. SPHE addresses issues such as substance misuse, both alcohol and drugs, relationships and sexuality education and suicide. In providing for SPHE as part of the curriculum, my Department is discharging its responsibility towards the educational dimension of children and young peoples' formation. Significant measures were taken to ensure that quality SPHE programmes are introduced into all schools. Other groups, agencies and individuals also have significant responsibilities in the formation of young people. These include parents, church bodies and society in general.
Specifically, in relation to the contribution that schools may make to the concerns raised by the Deputy, SPHE programmes that are planned and consistent throughout the individual school, will enable children and young people to develop a framework of values, attitudes, understanding and life skills that will inform their decisions and actions both during their time in school and in their future lives. As SPHE has a moral and spiritual dimension, its development and implementation is influenced significantly by the ethos and characteristic spirit of the school. The manner in which SPHE is being introduced accommodates this position.
Support for the introduction of social, personal and health education as part of the primary school curriculum will begin in Autumn 2001, when all primary teachers will attend professional development programmes to enable them teach the curriculum. This will build on the training programmes already provided in areas which form part of SPHE: the child abuse prevention programme, relationships and sexuality education and the substance misuse prevention programme. The support programme for SPHE will continue for two academic years. A major relationships and sexuality education support programme has been provided for primary and post primary schools and support for these programmes at both levels is continuing.
As part of its strategy to counteract the effects of educational disadvantage, the Government has established the national educational psychological service – NEPS. This is an executive agency of my Department with devolved responsibility for the provision of educational psychological services to primary and post-primary schools. NEPS psychologists provide a consultation service to the teachers and parents of students who are distressed and may also engage in short-term counselling of such students. The psychologists act in close collaboration with the health boards, especially over the arrangement of more intensive, long-term support for particular individuals and families. NEPS has a general remit to promote mental health in schools and, in this context, psychologists may assist schools in drafting a school policy on education in life skills, within the framework of school development planning.
Does the Minister accept that many young people are in crisis? Given our position at the top of the scale in Europe for drug and alcohol use among young people, and the high rates of young male suicide, there is a need for the SPHE to be pursued with vigour. This programme is a very fine one and it is provided in a planned and consistent way. However, that is not so in the case of all schools. Will the Minister tell us the proportion of post-primary schools in which the programme is being fully provided with trained staff? It is my understanding that quite a few schools do not provide the programme. Further to his comments on the proposal to introduce the programme at primary level, will the Minister tell us the timescale he has in mind?
The walk tall programme, which is designed to combat substance abuse and enhance pupils' life skills, is under way in primary schools. It is expected that by June 2001, a total of 3,000 schools, or 94% of all primary schools, will have access support from my Department for this programme.
I referred to the SPHE programme.
It is a very important programme. The on my own two feet programme, which provides similar material at second level, has been subsumed into the SPHE programme. It is expected that by the end of 2003, every post-primary school will have SPHE as an integral part of the junior cycle programme.
An evaluation of both programmes was carried out by an external independent consultant. The evaluation of the walk tall programme was carried out among teachers who had been involved with it, and the satisfaction rating in regard to the training received and the materials provided was particularly high. I accept what the Deputy says. These programmes are very important. They are being integrated into the school system, but it takes time to get them fully operational because much training is required and that involves absence from classes. The whole process is well under way now.
I get no sense of urgency from the Minister in relation to the problems confronting young people. It really is very bad out there, and we are seeing only the tip of the iceberg in terms of children coming before the courts and other incidents happening around the country, for example, the increase in the prevalence of young people being found with considerable amounts of alcohol in them and the ensuing violence that occurs. The Minister has not given me an answer on the number of schools providing the SPHE programme. Is he in a position to give me a reply today?
The time for dealing with this question has expired. We must proceed to the next question.
This is my first supplementary question.
The Chair is bound by the rules laid down by the House. We must proceed to Question No. 47.
Perhaps the Minister will provide those figures to me before the close of business this evening.
I will.
