Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional supports that could be put in place to raise awareness of the European Union for primary and secondary school students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4670/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can advise the Deputy that awareness of the European Union is raised through teaching and learning around citizenship at every level from Early Years to post primary.

Aistear, the curriculum for Early Years is based on twelve principles for early learning and development, one of which is Citizenship. It promotes the concept of citizenship and social justice with children and respects them as young citizens. The concept of Citizenship and Global Citizenship is integrated into the primary SPHE curriculum.

Aspects of a number of curricula at Post-primary level would reference the European Union. Examples include: Junior Cycle CSPE, Business Studies, Visual Art and Leaving Certificate English, Agricultural Science, Geography and Politics and Society.

The framework for Junior Cycle includes “values what it means to be an active citizen, with rights and responsibilities in local and wider contexts” as one of its 24 Statements of Learning. Learning experiences associated with this Statement of Learning would result in students learning how government and politics work in Ireland and elsewhere, including Europe, enabling students to develop an understanding that as citizens we all have rights and responsibilities who can contribute to building a better world within their local communities and in the wider world.

The Leaving Certificate Politics and Society curriculum includes a strand on Power and Decision making at national and European level and another on Human Rights and Responsibilities in Europe and the wider world.

The Professional Development Support Services also help to raise awareness of the European Union through Continuous Professional Development (CPD), workshops, seminars etc provided to teachers in terms of the relevant curriculum areas. For example, teachers are supported in demonstrating an understanding of, and the links between: the EU, sovereignty, intergovernmentalism and supranationalism. The Support Services and teachers alike reference the European Union as a lens through which to examine a variety of the learning outcomes, topics and key concepts. Current and emerging topics such as Brexit, immigration, democratic representation, sustainability and the “othering” of parts of our community are all examined through the European Union. Scoilnet.ie, the Department’s portal for teachers and schools hosts many resources in relation to the European Union. Scoilnet also engages with the EU Commission office in Dublin to promote awareness of Ireland's engagement with the EU.

In addition to the raising of awareness through the curriculum and the supports provided to teachers, there are a number of programmes with which schools can engage with learning about the European Union.

The Blue Star programme,funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and supported by the Department of Education, allows primary school pupils to learn about our rich European heritage, diverse European cultures and languages, and the importance of the European Union today. The programme involves teachers and pupils carrying out projects and creative activities related to the History, Geography, Culture and Institutions of the EU.In 2021 nearly 240 schools took part from all 26 counties. Over the last ten years, more than 1,000 schools have taken part in this programme, which is managed by European Movement Ireland.

At post primary level, the European Parliament office in Ireland runs the European Parliament Ambassador school programme (Ambassador School Programme | Youth Outreach | European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland (europa.eu)) which aims to raise awareness about European Parliamentary democracy and European citizenship values.

Finally, the Career for EU Strategy, approved by the Government in May 2021, will also help raise awareness of the European Union. The existing EU Jobs campaign will be expanded, including increased promotion and outreach to second level students in Ireland, including native Irish speakers and those who speak another EU language in the home. It is expected that it will encourage EU career opportunities and promote the learning of European languages at second level in conjunction with the Department of Education’s Languages Connect Strategy.