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CHANGES TO SCHOOL curriculums to include topics like consent, domestic violence and coercive control are set to be brought in by the Department of Education, as part of a new domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy.
The Zero Tolerance strategy, launched today by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman, will see further women’s refuge places created alongside harsher punishments for assaults causing harm.
Under the strategy, curriculums for both primary and secondary schools will be updated, with changes to secondary schools set to include consent, domestic violence, coercive control and safe use of the internet.
Speaking at the launch, Education Minister Norma Foley said that education has a “very significant” role to play in the strategy, saying that work has already been undertaken to ensure students have access to information on issues like domestic and sexual violence.
“There’s an acknowledgement that we live in the 21st century, our students need to have the confidence and skillsets themselves to look at issues around sexual harassment, identifying bullying,” said Foley.
We’re not just talking about written documentation, we’re talking about the manner in which we implement it, so skilled staff to implement it, a curricula which meets the issues of the day, which are around consent, coercive control, domestic violence, internet safety and healthy relationships.
“We’re clear of what the issues are, we’re very clear that our staff need to be skilled to deliver it.”
Currently, the junior cycle curriculum is set to come into effect in September 2023 while the senior cycle curriculum will be brought in by September 2024. For both primary and secondary schools, the anti-bullying procedure is set to be reviewed and updated alongside these curriculum changes.
Foley said that the Department is currently “quite along the way” in putting the curriculum in place in schools.
McEntee said that the launch of the strategy needs to change attitudes towards domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, saying that people should not turn a blind eye.
“I have to be honest with you… We can develop policy, we can put in place new laws, we can put in place new curriculum, we can work with each and every one of you but I cannot insert myself into the Whatsapp group and call out the type of behaviours,” said McEntee.
“We all have a role to play here in the delivery of policy and services and the direction that we can provide, but it’s each and every one of us: each individual, each man, each woman, making sure that we play our part.
“That we play a role in making sure that we achieve that overall goal, the overall objective along that journey and that is absolutely zero tolerance of any kind of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence.”
Speaking at the launch, the Taoiseach said that misogyny has “no place” in Irish society.
“We all have to be clear with each other, that there’s simply no place in society for misogyny,” adding that there are plans to double the amount of women’s refuge spaces around the country.
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Schools are more and more being asked to do things which are actually the parent’s job.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: a lot of what you learn in secondary school is not actually pertinent to real life. This is, so what is the harm in it being thought at home and in school?
@A$AP Ragnick: Looks like we’ll have a lot of hygienic, nice and socially conscious people who are academically inept.
@Elrond Rivendell: your right, because it’s impossible to introduce one new module, and the only way to do so would be to eliminate every other subject from the school curriculum so it can be thought 8 hours a day. Silly me.
@A$AP Ragnick: Crikey! Well if your writing is anything to go by, wellbeing and hygiene we’re definitely taught over grammar in your place. To address your substantive point, the original point was that schools are teaching a lot of things that should be taught at home. Your response was along the lines of yeah grand because a lot of things on the curriculum are useless. Wellbeing already gets 100 hours more than English, Irish or Maths and 200 hours more than Science, History, Business, Geography, Languages or any practical subjects at Junior Cycle. I think the evidence that we are developing a lot of people who are well versed in hygiene, mental health, social consciousness and such over academically able students is evidenced by the emphasis in the Junior Cycle programme.
@Elrond Rivendell: **were** being taught. Damn auto-correct. Laughing at the irony myself here!
Well done Helen McEntee, this initiative long overdue
Thank you Helen McEntee.
I’m heartened to hear this.
Domestic abuse inflicted by woman on men is a hidden tragedy in this country.
Helen McEntee would make a fantastic Taoiseach.
@Darren: you’d make a much better comedian
@Graham Manning: and you what would you make ?
@Margaret Mcgarry: Listen listen, Graham is one of these “all politicians are dopes and on the take” people. The barstool expert who spouts opinions online that in the days before the internet were only heard at the bar or on the street corner but because he publishes it online, it now becomes fact. Don’t let him bother you.
@Margaret Mcgarry: An English teacher. Want a grind???
@Elrond Rivendell: says the person convinced introducing this will make students academically inept???
Excellent news!
I like this Helen McEntee.
About time, I feel so ashamed and guilty about being a man, especially a straight, white man.
We need to make sure none of our boys grow up with self respect and confidence.
Critical race theory is hopefully next.
Our schools need third wave feminism urgently before even more of our children get brainwashed by the patriarchy to believe that men and fathers deserve the same rights and respect as women and mothers.
@Dan Broderick: It was inevitable that someone would have a spectacularly bad take on this. Congrats on hitting every buzz word on the “woke madness” bingo card while somehow suggesting that teaching people about consent negatively impacts their confidence. Thankfully, it’s a dying breed that yearns for the good old days when men were men, wha?
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Misogyny was mentiined twice in the closing paragraph. This shows the true meaning behind the story, this isn’t about equality, this is more ignorant man hating nonsense.
Real men are a dying breed and the anti male agenda isn’t even hidden anymore…..nothing more pathetic, dangerous and repulsive to women as a male feminist
@Dan Broderick: “real men are a dying breed” Lol. Upset that the story mentioned misogyny? The fragility is strong with you.
Speaking at the launch, the Taoiseach said that misogyny has “no place” in Irish society.
I agree but what about Misandry or is that still acceptable in society?? It does exist also, in fact one could argue that the taoiseachs statement could be construed as such? He should have said theres no place for misanthropy – at least thats non-biased.
Teaching both sexes to respect each other covers most scenarios. Parents who allow their young 10-12 year old kids and teenagers to roam around committing anti social behaviour need to cop on . When they get away with it that young it emboldens them do worse as they get older. Why should the teachers be landed with the parents responsibility’s.
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