Billy Kelleher
Ceist:169. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of participating schools implementing a healthy schools action plan. [53797/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 14 December 2017
Ceisteanna (169)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department is supportive of the promotion of healthy lifestyles in schools and has issued circulars to support and strengthen schools’ efforts in developing in young people the skills and attitudes needed to make informed decisions about their health.
Schools and the wider education sector in conjunction with parents and families have a crucial role to play in supporting students to make healthy choices. Through their primary and post primary education students are taught the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make healthier life choices and to develop the resilience to reject negative options. This can be seen across in the curriculum, through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in Physical Education. It is also an important component of Wellbeing, the new area of learning introduced to all first year students from September 2017, as part of the implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle.
Another significant development in this area is the introduction of the specification for a new examinable Leaving Certificate Physical Education subject and a new non-examinable Framework for Senior Cycle Physical Education which were approved by me in February 2017, following development by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).
Both the examinable subject and the Framework are being introduced on a phased basis from September 2018 . This is in keeping with the strong emphasis from my Department on promoting and encouraging Healthy Lifestyles for all students and commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and the National Physical Activity Plan, reflecting the concern to ensure that all young persons in our schools engage in some form of physical activity. The work in schools also supports the Government's Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 - 2025 - Healthy Ireland.
The 2015 Lifeskills Survey indicates that 92% of primary schools surveyed reported that they had a healthy eating policy in place. This is similar to the level reported in 2012. 3% reported that they were in the process of developing a healthy eating policy, and 5% reported having no healthy eating policy in place.
100% of primary schools reported that they taught pupils about the importance of a balanced diet and 99% include the food pyramid as part of these lessons.
At Post primary 32% of schools reported having a healthy eating policy in place and a further 30% reported that they were in the process of developing one. 93% of schools reported that they promoted healthy lunches with their students compared with 66% in 2012.