Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she gave permission for all of the content that was delivered on the SPHE teacher training in DCU from February 2023 to 2024; the reason she believes that there should be no values attached to teaching of SPHE. [39620/24]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has given permission for students to be told by teachers that confidentiality should exist over what is said in classrooms on SPHE discussions; and if she understands that children should be allowed to discuss with their parents what happens in the classroom. [39622/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 167 together.

The Deputy may be aware that a new Junior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in schools for those entering first year in September 2023, and in September of this year, an updated SPHE curriculum for Senior Cycle has been made available for schools to introduce by September 2027 for students entering fifth year.

The Junior Cycle specification was the first to be updated. The new Junior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in schools for those entering first year in September 2023. The aim of the course is to build students’ self-awareness and positive self-worth; to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, dispositions and values that will support them to lead fulfilling and healthy lives; empower them to create, nurture and maintain respectful and loving relationships with self and others; and enhance their capacity to contribute positively to society.

The specifications are available on the NCCA’s website www.curriculumonline.ie. The NCCA has also published a toolkit of resources which includes guidance for the teaching of SPHE. One of the resources deals with ground rules for how the SPHE class will work together, taking into account respect for people’s privacy, establishing appropriate boundaries and child protection and safeguarding.

There is no suggestion that students should be asked not to discuss SPHE teaching and learning with their parents, who are the primary educators of their children. In the NCCA’s Presentation for Parents on Junior Cycle SPHE, which is published on www.ncca.ie, it is noted that conversations between parents and students are really important and that topics covered in the SPHE class can often provide an opportunity for parents to open up conversations on SPHE-related matters.

To build teacher capacity in the teaching of SPHE, in 2022, I announced the provision of a Graduate Diploma in Social, Personal and Health Education and Relationships and Sexuality Education SPHE/RSE for post-primary teachers to be provided by DCU.

The DCU programme was developed following a tendering process and is fully academically accredited through DCU’s quality assurance processes for any new programme. DCU has extensive experience and expertise in the field of teacher education, including, specifically, personnel with significant research experience in SPHE/RSE.

This programme is the first of its kind in Ireland and offers post-primary teachers the opportunity to upskill in this very important subject area, something that has been called for by teacher representative groups.

The teaching of SPHE/RSE is a complex endeavour given the breadth and perceived sensitivities of the topics addressed. The programme developed by DCU offers the integrity of an evidence-based approach, grounded in models of good practice, delivered by a core team of highly qualified teacher educators with leadership and expertise in SPHE/RSE pedagogy, nationally and internationally recognised researchers and experienced blended learning designs. It should be noted that there is a distinction between material which is provided to teachers as part of their training and which should be provided to students, and that no sexually explicit or graphic material should be used in classrooms.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has given permission for the OIDE Toolkit to be used in schools; if she supports the idea that students should avoid heteronormative language; if she has given permission for training to be given to SPHE teachers that they should introduce themselves to students using their personal pronouns; if she has given permission for teaching to be delivered in SPHE on the basis of gender affirmation rather than science; if her Department has conducted any study into the damaged caused to children by gender affirmation ideology; if so, to provide examples of this research; and if she realises that most European countries are reversing from the ideology of gender affirmation on the basis of the damage it does to children. [39621/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to the curriculum itself, this is considered to be for all learners regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender or orientation. It is the aim of my Department that every child has access to equitable education, and that each learner feels safe and happy in an inclusive and welcoming school environment, at every stage.

In regard to the toolkit referenced by the Deputy, I take it that this is the online toolkit of resources published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. These have been created in direct response to teachers’ request for support for classroom teaching of SPHE, and there are three online toolkits – one for primary, one for junior cycle and one for senior cycle teachers. All three are available on www.curriculumonline.ie . These resources are carefully selected for Irish classrooms and mapped out according to the age and stage of learners.

Teachers may choose to avail of these resources if they so wish. They are advised to judge the relevance and appropriateness of each resource in the context of their students’ unique needs, stage of development and school context. Some of the resources are listed as background reading for teachers and others are listed as for use in the classroom. No inappropriate graphic or explicit material should ever be used in a classroom setting.