Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

160. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps taken by his Department to enhance knowledge of cyber-security risks and protection measures among students in the education system at both primary and post-primary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44981/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

School management authorities are responsible for having appropriate policies and supports in place for students who encounter cyber related issues while at school. My Department provides information and specialist support including training for teachers and schools to support their planning in this area.

Awareness on Internet Safety for Schools is carried out by the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST- Technology in Education) in partnership with the Safety Internet Ireland Project. The PDST is a cross-sectoral support services, operating under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills. Awareness raising is carried out through a Webwise Initiative which was set up in 2005 by the PDST Technology Team and which continues to be developed to reflect new technologies and the changing use of social media.

The Webwise Initiative is part of the Safer Internet Ireland Project coordinated by the Office for Internet Safety (an Executive Office of the Department of Justice & Equality) to develop national initiatives promoting the safer use of electronic media and enhance protection of the vulnerable, particularly children, against the downside of the internet. Webwise promotes the autonomous, effective, and safer use of the internet by young people through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting parents, teachers, and children themselves with consistent and relevant messages including guidance on Acceptable Usage in schools. The PDST Technology Team develops and disseminate resources that help teachers integrate internet safety into teaching and learning in their schools.

Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 one of the key objectives is to promote responsible and ethical use of the internet and related technologies and to continue to undertake awareness-raising actions and programmes that promote responsible and ethical use of the internet in close cooperation with all relevant actors at European, national and local level.

Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory subject at primary level and is mandatory up to junior cycle in post-primary schools. Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is a module of SPHE which is taught in an age appropriate holistic manner. Respectful communication, friendships, relationships, personal safety and influences and decisions are all components of SPHE. The SPHE curriculum also promotes media awareness and helps children to examine and explore various forms of media.

The PDST provides continuing professional development for teachers to improve the quality of teaching and learning in primary and post primary schools. Within PDST, there is a team of nineteen full time personnel focusing on health and well-being, with the goal of helping schools to develop and promote students’ mental, emotional, social, sexual, personal and physical health in the context of a positive health-promoting school environment. The programmes offered by this team include:

- Well-being post-primary in-service programme (including RSE, Sexual orientation and homophobia, Alcohol and drugs, Internet safety and cyber-bullying, Role of the SPHE coordinator)

- Child Protection (provision of seminars for primary and post-primary designated liaison persons)

- Anti-bullying workshops (provision of workshops for primary and post-primary schools on the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures and policy, seminars on anti-bullying awareness- raising, interventions and prevention strategies)

- PE (primary and post-primary PE communities of practice)

- RSE workshops for primary schools

- In-school support (e.g. for the Staysafe programme)

- Junior and Senior Cycle Personal Safety