Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock

Minister orders full review of sex education in schools

Richard Bruton is due to address the annual conference of the ASTI teachers’ union this morning.

THE EDUCATION MINISTER has ordered a full review of sex education in schools, with particular focus on certain areas, including consent and contraception.

Richard Bruton said that certain elements of the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools were 20 years old and that it was important to carry out a review to ensure it was fit for purpose to meet the needs of young people.

Bruton has written to the National Council on Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) that they consider certain areas in particular. These include:

  • Consent, what it means and its importance
  • Developments in contraception
  • Healthy, positive sexual expression and relationships
  • Safe use of the internet
  • Social media and its effects on relationships and self-esteem
  • LGBTQ+ matters

Bruton also said that teachers, students, parents and principals would be consulted over the experience of how RSE is delivered in schools.

RSE is mandatory for both primary and post-primary students, however the curriculum is out of date and it is sometimes not taught properly.

“The RSE curriculum fulfils an important function,” said Bruton.

“Every student has a right to access information about sexual health, relationships and sexuality, and this must be delivered in a factual manner in every school.

This review will help to inform decisions regarding the content of the curriculum and how it is delivered.

I want to ensure that the RSE curriculum meets the needs of young people today, who face a range of different issues to those faced by young people in the late 1990s.

Bruton said that it was “essential” that the curriculum was delivered by teachers “who are fully supported and who feel comfortable teaching the curriculum and talking to their students about sexuality and relationships”.

In its final report, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the 8th Amendment said in one of its recommendations that improvements should be made “in sexual health and relationship education, including the areas of contraception and consent, in primary and post-primary schools, colleges, youth clubs and other organisations involved in education and interactions with young people”.

Bruton is due to address the annual conference of the ASTI teachers’ union this morning.

Read: France to set legal age of sexual consent at 15

Read: ‘We can’t ignore the very real possibility of the emergence of a new disruptive politics’

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
69 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark
    Favourite Mark
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:38 PM

    Are playdates ok ? NO!

    286
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
    Favourite Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 6:47 PM

    @Mark: Playdates were never ok. Heard a top child and family psychologist on the radio a few weeks ago speaking about how they’re needless and normally only an excuse for parents to get together to gossip about other parents! Children get plenty social interaction at creche, preschool, school or even at home with their families!!

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Angel Drake
    Favourite Angel Drake
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 7:39 PM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: how old are your children?? Because if u had children in junior infants and third class ud know they always ask for play dates, top psychologist? Please name? Because play dates I feel builds there self esteem and gives them cultural or social differental experiences.

    100
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
    Favourite Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 9:05 PM

    @Angel Drake: I’m patently aware of the needs of school-aged children and of the myriad of research that overwhelmingly indicates that play dates are not necessary for social development. Informal play with siblings etc. and interaction in school-based settings is far more valuable than the kind of contrived and overly structured situations that parents conjure up.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Bury
    Favourite Kevin Bury
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 11:43 PM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: seriously, go pet ur cat

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shakka1244
    Favourite Shakka1244
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:50 PM

    Kids can catch it and kids can spread it.
    Please everyone, just for a few weeks, assume you have the virus and act like you don’t want to spread it.
    We all need to work together here !

    233
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shakka1244
    Favourite Shakka1244
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 6:27 PM

    @David Jordan: Please ignore this. It’s pure lies.
    .
    @journal, please remove this dangerous misinformation. I’ve seen this poster spout this rubbish on loads of threads.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shakka1244
    Favourite Shakka1244
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 7:05 PM

    @Shakka1244: thank you @journal
    Fair pkay

    10
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Quentin Moriarty
    Favourite Quentin Moriarty
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 7:25 PM

    @Shakka1244: ????????

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shakka1244
    Favourite Shakka1244
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 9:07 PM

    @Quentin Moriarty: someone called David Jordan keeps posting the same stuff saying kids can’t catch it or spread it. Completely false. I asked for his post to be removed.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dino
    Favourite Dino
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 10:04 PM

    @Shakka1244: thank god, if it wasn’t for people like you I don’t know what we would do

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bleurgh
    Favourite Bleurgh
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:59 PM

    Look people it’s 2 weeks, with your children….relax! It’s good for kids to be bored. I have friends who grew up in rural Ireland in the 80s, who wouldn’t see anyone outside their family for 2 or 3 weeks over the summer.
    I have muted my kids classes WhatsApp groups, I am so annoyed at the parents talking with such dread of being at home with their own children in their own house. I’d rather my kids at home than visiting them in icu. Myself and himself are trying to do working from
    Home in shifts.
    Also I hate play dates with a passion, I wish for the days that kids knocked on the door to play!
    Deal with it, it’s a few weeks!

    251
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Dunne
    Favourite Paddy Dunne
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 6:45 PM

    @Bleurgh: it’s not going to be 2 weeks it’s going to be at least a month 2 weeks is preliminary 4 days to Easter hols there will be no school till after Easter

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy Roche
    Favourite Tommy Roche
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 6:50 PM

    @Bleurgh: There is absolutely no way this is just a 2 week closure. The governments plan is to try delay the peak of infection until late spring/early summer when the usual winter type ailments all but die out, thus leaving the health services under a little less pressure and better able to focus on this particular virus. Even the governments experts are saying our peak is at least weeks away, if not months, so how would it make any sense to reopen schools when the situation is going to be worse on the 29th March than it is now ? Ive no doubt the closure will be extended until after the easter break, and if at that point the number of infections are still rising then anything is possible. Wouldn’t be one bit surprised if the closures run up to the summer holidays and schools dont reopen until next Sept.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jacqueline McCabe
    Favourite Jacqueline McCabe
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:47 PM

    No

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arya
    Favourite Arya
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:42 PM

    How are the children learning at home? Is there tools online from the schools or department of education?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny BeGoode
    Favourite Johnny BeGoode
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:44 PM

    @Arya: The educational website twinkl is offering free membership to all parents this month, this is a fantastic resource. Go to www.twinkl.ie/offer and enter the code IRLTWINKLHELPS

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Record Sunshine
    Favourite Record Sunshine
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:45 PM

    @Arya: mine are learning all about Zelda at the moment. They’re in primary school and a few weeks of doing f all won’t harm their career prospects.

    99
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bríd
    Favourite Bríd
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:45 PM

    @Arya: Yes, there’s lots of online classroom resources. Many schools are using Google Classroom and Edmodo as well as sending links home, textbooks and assigning research projects.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Harris
    Favourite Dave Harris
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 5:47 PM

    @Arya: my junior infant will have daily lessons on seesaw. Used it today and its great

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah Green
    Favourite Sarah Green
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 6:00 PM

    @Arya: My son’s school is doing work with the pupils via their iPads.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bleurgh
    Favourite Bleurgh
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 6:00 PM

    @Arya: teachers in primary have sent home packs for kids to do. At second level many have platforms where teachers have uploaded work

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Towger
    Favourite Towger
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 6:30 PM

    @Arya: My secondary children had a full day of school online today, following their normal timetable. The school is using MS Teams. By all accounts it went better than expected.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Conroy
    Favourite Adam Conroy
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 7:20 PM

    @Arya: they’re using online platforms. In fairness though, most education happens at home. A month out of school won’t do any harm.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Porter
    Favourite Mark Porter
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 7:50 PM

    @Arya: our secondary school has online access to subjects and work.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Bury
    Favourite Kevin Bury
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 11:47 PM

    @Record Sunshine: 78 thumbs up…. villages and their idiots

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Thompson
    Favourite Kevin Thompson
    Report
    Mar 14th 2020, 7:55 AM

    Regardless whether it is 2 weeks or 2 months to mind your own children, it would be a great opportunity to teach them not to be selfish a**holes in hoarding as their adult counterparts and learn how to look after the more vulnerable in society

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Porter
    Favourite Mark Porter
    Report
    Mar 13th 2020, 7:48 PM

    2 weeks is the isolation period.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds