Education Committee to hear from Catholic schools body on provision of Relationships and Sexuality Education

• Representatives from Joint Managerial Body/Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools (JMB/AMCSS)
• Representatives from Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)

Prior to this, Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, will be before the Committee to discuss the Motion on Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann of the Employment Equality Act 1998 (section 12)(Reservation of vocational training places) Order 2018. The Order will allow DCU to reserve 32 places on its Bachelor of Education (initial teacher education) programme for entry in the academic years 2018/19 to 2022/23, in accordance with Section 12 of the Employment Equality Act 1998 (the Act). The Order is designed to ensure the availability of teachers to primary schools with a Church of Ireland/reformed Christian ethos and in order to maintain the religious ethos of such primary schools.

Committee Chair, Fiona O’Loughlin TD, said today, “There is a lack of consistency in how RSE is taught in our schools. Based on the information gathered at our hearings to date, the Committee believes that the responsibility for providing young people with clear, healthy information should not just fall on schools or educational organisations, but should be shared with families. Government-level engagement and intervention is needed. The JMB/AMCSS will present the perspective of faith-based schools on the provision of RSE, while the ETBI will give us its views on behalf of the multidenominational schools it represents.”

Watch the meeting live here