Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposal to include mindfulness in primary school education; if there is a timeframe for this to be introduced into the curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49412/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 18th October, I appeared before the Joint Committee on Education & Skills  in relation to the Committee’s Report on Positive Mental Health in Schools, whose recommendations included the proposal to introduce  Mindfulness into the curriculum.

Research into mindfulness reminds us to be cautious with regard to its introduction to young people as a means to address mental health issues.  While mindfulness is proven to be beneficial for adults, children and young people may respond differently. Interventions need to be need and age appropriate.

Wellbeing for all students is a priority for the Department. The Department’s approach is to support the implementation of a whole-school approach to wellbeing. My Department published a  Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice earlier this year.  It set a target that all schools and centres for education will have embedded a Wellbeing Promotion Process by 2023.  The Statement provides advice and direction for schools to do this. It is open to schools to be innovative in how they implement this and many schools are already using mindfulness programmes and accessing training through the Education Centre’s Network and other sources. Circulars 42/2018 and 43/2018 issued advising schools on the appropriate use of wellbeing programmes.

A Wellbeing Policy Implementation Plan is included in the Wellbeing Policy Statement. Actions 3.1 and 3.2 provide for the mapping of existing resources and supports available for CPD in the area of wellbeing promotion  provided by the Department’s support services and the HSE. Following this, a gap analysis will be completed with recommendations identified for the implementation of priority actions to ensure clear pathways to support and resources are made available to all schools and centres for education.

Mindfulness is a skill that can usefully be taught to young people as part of the SPHE curriculum. The use of mindfulness in education has a lot in common with and can complement the SPHE curriculum which aims to teach children about managing emotions and developing relationships etc. Mindfulness practice is likely to be a useful tool to support SPHE implementation but is unlikely to replace it. The NCCA are currently reviewing and redeveloping the Primary curriculum; SPHE will form part of this review.