Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I welcome the opportunity to outline the position regarding the provision of self-awareness programmes on checking for cancer and whether these could be piloted in CSPE classes.

CSPE is a mandatory programme at junior cycle in post-primary schools. It aims to develop the knowledge and skills for critical awareness, ethical decision-making and participatory citizenship based on an understanding of human rights and social responsibilities. Issues explored include gender equity, racism, interculturalism, environmental protection, development education, poverty, unemployment and homelessness through group work discussions, activities and research and action projects. While the subject aims to develop critical awareness, it does not address awareness of health issues.

Therefore, the area of self-awareness programmes on checking for cancer is more relevant to SPHE. This subject has been a mandatory part of the junior cycle core curriculum in post-primary schools since September 2003. The overall aim of the programme is to help develop students' confidence and self-esteem and promote the skills for living, for responsible decision making, including making informed decisions about their mental, physical and emotional health and well-being. The implementation of these programmes in schools is supported by full-time support services which provide in-service training for teachers and advice and support to schools. The second level SPHE support service is operated jointly with the health sector.

The content of SPHE at junior cycle is comprehensive and is presented in ten modules that address topics and issues relevant to the lives of students. One of the modules is physical health, covering topics such as body care, healthy eating, diet, exercise, relaxation and feeling unwell. The aims of this topic include enabling students to link common symptoms of illness to their causes, with particular reference to illnesses associated with adolescence, and helping students to appreciate the need to seek medical and other professional advice and help.

A cancer awareness programme developed by the Marie Keating Foundation, with support from the SPHE support service, has been designed to be used within the SPHE curriculum. The aims of the programme are to promote awareness among students at post-primary level of various forms of cancer and the importance of early detection in an age-appropriate way. A resource pack to support the programme was produced and sent to all post-primary schools in 2008. The resources include lesson plans, worksheets, learning activities, fact sheets, a CD, DVD and on-line resources, including podcasts. Among the topics covered in the cancer awareness programme are risks, symptoms, early detection and treatment of various forms of cancer, while procedures for self-examination to encourage early detection of breast, testicular and skin cancer, are set out in the resource pack. The early detection of lung cancer through medical examinations and cervical cancer through screening programmes is also covered in the programme.

Prior to the programme being circulated to post-primary schools, it was piloted by a number of groups. A preliminary study was conducted in a number of single sex and mixed post-primary schools in 2005 and 2006. The research was carried out with students in transition year, fifth and sixth years, in collaboration with their teachers. In addition to the resources detailed which specifically aim to make students aware of the benefits of early detection of cancer through self-examination, the wide range of skills and competencies which SPHE aims to develop enables students to lead healthy lives and make informed decisions regarding their health, including being able to identify sources of medical and other professional advice and seek it when needed.

I thank the Senator for affording me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position on the provision for post-primary schools of self-awareness programmes on checking for cancer.