|
 |
|
 |
|
Teen survey highlights poor implementation of relationships and sexuality education
Teen survey highlights poor implementation of relationships and sexuality education
Friday, 14th May 2010
Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Health and Children, Dublin
Barry Andrews TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs today launched Life skills matter – not just points: A Survey of implementation of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in second-level schools. Speaking at the launch, Minister Andrews said: ‘This survey, conducted by teenagers from the Dáil na nÓg Council, is the first Irish peer research on these issues and outlines the reality of how young people experience implementation of SPHE and RSE in second-level schools’.
‘Through meetings and engagement with politicians, policy makers, researchers, teachers and education partners, the Dáil na nÓg Council developed a deep knowledge of their subject, while actively pursing change to improve the current SPHE and RSE provision. One evident gap in the information available was the perspective and voice of young people. Life skills matter – not just points seeks to fill this gap,’ added Minister Andrews. ‘In order to develop effective policies and safeguard young people’s well-being, we must consider the views and solutions put forward by young people themselves,’ concluded Minister Andrews.
Sheelan Yousefizadeh, spokesperson for the Dáil na nÓg Council from Dublin City Comhairle na nÓg said: ‘Young people at Dáil na nÓg 2009 highlighted that they are unhappy with the relationships and sexuality education they are receiving at senior cycle in schools. Schools are obliged to deliver SPHE from Primary to 3rd year and that RSE is part of SPHE up to 3rd year. Schools are obliged to continue teaching RSE up to the end of 6th year and all schools should have an RSE policy. A Department of Education and Science and Crisis Pregnancy Agency Study (2007) found a 52% implementation level of RSE in 6th year, which is at odds with our experience and that of the young people we represent from Dáil na nÓg. We decided to conduct our own survey on implementation of SPHE and RSE to get the views of students.’
Ms Yousefizadeh noted that the most significant finding from Life skills matter – not just points is that only 26% of senior cycle students had RSE classes in 2009. In contrast, 88% of junior cycle students had SHPE classes in 2009.
With the help of a professional researcher, two questionnaires were developed, one on SPHE for 1st, 2nd and 3rd years and one on RSE for Transition Year (TY), 5th and 6th years. The Dáil na nÓg Council trained as social researchers and administered questionnaires to young people in Comhairle na nÓg around the country in November and December 2009. A total of 354 young people took part in the survey. 134 students from 68 schools took part in the SPHE survey and 220 students from 94 schools took part in the RSE survey.
Key findings from the RSE survey for TY, 5th and 6th years, include:
• 74% of students had no RSE classes in 2009
• 2% of students were involved in the development of RSE policy in their schools
• In 32% of the schools surveyed, RSE is being taught as part of religion, 21% through SPHE, 6% through biology and 1% through home economics,
• social education and other subjects
• 91% of students felt that it was important or very important to learn RSE in school
• 39% highlighted that RSE classes are not helpful in the way they are currently being taught
• The most emphasised theme in the RSE syllabus was ‘healthy relationships’
• The least emphasised theme in the RSE syllabus was ‘understanding sexual orientation’.
Ms Yousefizadeh added: ‘45% of students said that they received RSE through guest speakers from medical backgrounds, crisis pregnancy agencies, rape crisis centres and religious groups. Quotes from students in our survey on guest speakers were mostly positive however, quotes on students’ experiences of religious groups were quite critical:
“God’s input into sex. It was quite bad. They ridiculed homosexuality.”
“Catholic Youth workers who provided us with untrue facts and gave misguided information. It was solely the teaching of the Catholic Church and totally biased”.’
‘On a positive note, the response to the SPHE curriculum was very encouraging with 46% of students saying that it helped developed their self-respect and self-confidence and 56% agreeing that it helped them make good decisions. 43% of students said that learning SPHE is very important to them, which proves students are really willing to learn,’ stated Darragh Nolan representing the Dáil na nÓg Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Comhairle na nÓg. ‘Comments from students in the research pointed to the importance of a good teacher with one student saying, “good teachers are essential. I had a teacher in 1st year and no one got anything out of SPHE. However, I have had two good teachers which benefited everyone”,’ continued Mr Nolan.
Key findings from the SPHE survey for 1st, 2nd and 3rd years, include:
• 88% of students had SPHE as a timetabled class
• 13% of students were involved in the development of SPHE policy in their schools
• The most emphasised theme in the SPHE syllabus was ‘alcohol, drug and solvent use’
• The least emphasised theme in the SPHE syllabus was ‘decisions and people who influence me’.
Mr Nolan noted that the main recommendations in the research for improving SPHE and RSE include:
more RSE and SPHE classes
• RSE needs to be taught as a subject in its own right, or as part of SPHE senior cycle
• teachers need to be better trained to teach RSE and SPHE
• a wider curriculum - more topics in detail about relationships and sexuality
• use of alternative and creative teaching methodologies
• more open discussion based on young people’s own experiences
‘The Dáil na nÓg Council believes that RSE should be implemented at senior cycle through a dedicated SPHE programme. Teenagers need life skills education that prepares us for the challenges and decisions we face every day. We ask parents and educators to accept that achieving high points in the Leaving Cert should not be the only focus of the education system,’ concluded Mr Nolan.
Dr. Colette Bonner, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Children said: ‘From a public health perspective, these results give cause for concern. Sexually transmitted infection notifications for 2008 reveal that of all sexually transmitted infections, over 10% occur in the 0 to 19yrs group and a further 60% occur in the 20-29yrs age group. Clearly this emphasizes the importance of sexual health information which is appropriate and factual.’ ‘School based RSE should be delivered in a consistent way by professionals who are specifically trained for this role and who support and complement parents and carers in educating our children and young people,’ concluded Dr. Bonner.
Click here for a copy of the report Life skills matter - not just points
Ends
Press contact: Anne O’Donnell – 01 6743204 / 086 3837320
Notes for editors
Dáil na nÓg is the annual national youth parliament for young people aged 12 to 18 years old. 200 delegates are elected to Dáil na nÓg through their local Comhairle na nÓg. Every year Dáil na nÓg delegates select and vote on themes which they feel are important to young people. The recommendations identified at Dáil na nÓg 2009 were:
• All young people should have access to sex education, which is appropriate to individual needs, comprehensive and varied in delivery; and
• The government needs to implement a structured SPHE course for Senior Cycle students incorporating positive mental health.
One representative from each of the 34 Comhairle na nÓg is elected to the Dáil na nÓg Council, which follows up on the recommendations from the Dáil and tries to make changes for young people in those areas. The Council representing Dáil na nÓg 2009 has been meeting for the last year to work on the above issues.
Dáil na nÓg is funded and overseen by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA). The National Youth Council of Ireland is contracted to organise Dáil na nÓg on behalf of and in co-operation with the OMCYA.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
