Arthur Morgan
Ceist:111 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself at the rate of implementation of his Department's sex education programme in schools across the State. [31086/03]
Written Answers. - School Curriculum.
Relationships and sexuality education, RSE, is an integral part of the social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum at primary and junior cycle post-primary level.
From September 2003, all primary schools will have begun implementing SPHE, in accordance with the primary curriculum 1999 implementation programme. The primary curriculum support service, which organises inservice for teachers to support the implementation of the 1999 curriculum, has provided comprehensive in-career development programmes for all teachers in SPHE.
A survey of post-primary schools in 2002 showed that 73% of schools were implementing RSE in some or all classes. A support service for SPHE up to junior cycle was established in 2000 and has been providing training and support to post-primary schools in all aspects of SPHE since then.
With effect from September 2003, all post-primary schools must implement the SPHE programme. Extra training and support in the RSE element of SPHE is currently being offered to schools by the RSE support service in conjunction with the SPHE support service.
It is the policy of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to carry out a rolling review of all curricula at primary and post-primary levels. The interim curriculum guidelines for senior cycle RSE will be reviewed as part of their inclusion in the broader curriculum for SPHE at senior cycle currently in development.
Question No. 112 answered with Question No. 76.
Question No. 113 answered with Question No. 60.