Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2009
1232 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans for the future of the Social Personal and Health Education programme at post primary level; if he is committed to ensuring this subject is given due recognition in schools and is taught by fully trained staff;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33704/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Personal and Health Education (SPHE) forms a mandatory part of curriculum provision in primary schools and in junior cycle. The overall aim is to help develop students' confidence and self esteem, and promote the skills for living, for responsible decision making, and for mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
The implementation of these programmes in schools is supported by support services at primary and second level which provide professional development for teachers and advice and support to schools. At second level, a full time support service is operated jointly with the Health Sector. A range of resources and manuals are available to support teachers in implementing the programme. While evaluations of the second level programme have indicated many positive features and have viewed the training provided by the support services as of high quality, the lack of a pre-service qualification for teachers in this area, allied with continued changes of staff deployed within schools to teach SPHE, may dilute the impact of inservice training. My Department is examining how this issue can best be addressed in the context of overall priorities and resources across the system.
