Teachers should only be assigned to provide sex education classes at secondary level if they feel capable of addressing delicate subjects, according to a statement by a trade union. In no event should teachers be assigned to conduct SPHE (social, personal and health education) or RSE (relationships and sexual education) without obtaining thorough and in-depth training, stated the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) to school stewards.
These remarks arise after Education Minister Norma Foley announced for the first time, sex education lessons will be compulsory for senior-cycle pupils. SPHE has long been a mandatory component of the Junior Cycle curriculum. Themes like sexual consent, the impacts of pornography on relationship expectations, and gender attitudes will be included in SPHE classes. Moreover, the syllabus specifies that teaching and learning should fully encompass and reflect “LGBTQ+ identities, relationships and families”.
Parents will retain the option to exclude their child from any learning that contravenes their personal beliefs. Students will earn the right to choose to participate in such classes upon reaching 18. Though SPHE won’t be evaluated as a Leaving Cert subject, the syllabus will enable in-class assessments for students.
The updated syllabus, making it obligatory to offer 60 teaching and learning hours over a two-year period, will be implemented despite most schools not scheduling SPHE for senior-cycle students aged between 15 and 18 because of the demands of the Leaving Cert. According to the Department of Education, by September 2027, schools will be expected to introduce the subject for students commencing their fifth year.
The understated acknowledgement by ASTI secretary general Kieran Christie to school stewards was that the curriculum contains “sensitive issues”. The communication states, “Teachers should exclusively teach content they deem they can comfortably and proficiently teach.” The message suggests that for some issues in the programme, additional expertise or support may be necessary.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland pinpointed the need for extra teachers to conduct SPHE classes at senior cycles. General Secretary, Michael Gillespie, expressed concerns about many schools currently battling to allocate sufficient teachers to meet their students’ requirements.
In a distinct development, the NCCA (National Council for Curriculum and Assessment) has released the curriculum specifications for nine senior-cycle disciplines. These include revised syllabuses for subjects like biology, physics, chemistry and business, and two novel additions: studies in drama, film and theatre; and climate action and sustainable development.
These modified and freshly introduced subjects will be rolled out to schools for fifth year students commencing with the academic year of 2025/2026. An additional component of assessment, such as a project or research task representing a minimum of 40% of the total marks, will accompany each subject.
According to Ms Foley, the objective behind this is to provide learners with a platform to exhibit their skills and capabilities and to alleviate their stress by shifting the focus from one decisive exam in June.