Anti-abuse programme to be made compulsory

A SCHOOLS’ programme to help children identify suspicious behaviour and protect them from abuse could be made compulsory in all schools, Education Minister Mary Hanafin has said.

It is believed that up to one-in-five primary schools do not offer the Stay Safe programme.

The programme provides children with the knowledge and skills to help them deal with potentially abusive or threatening situations.

Ms Hanafin confirmed all 3,300 primary schools will be surveyed to find out how many are offering the service. She hopes the survey will also reveal what obstacles prevent some schools from making it available to their pupils. “If I can determine what the problems are, I will address them to ensure the programme is rolled out properly. If not, then I am open to making it mandatory,” she told the Dáil.

The minister said she wanted every child to have access to the programme.

National Parents Council - Primary (NPC-P) chief executive Fionnuala Kilfeather welcomed the minister’s commitment.

“It’s a very complacent attitude for any school not to provide this protection programme when you look at what has happened with child abuse in this country. Sometimes people have been afraid of the content, but anybody who chooses to withdraw their child from something like this should be sure they are not leaving them vulnerable,” she said.