Department pledges to improve sex education in schools

Education chiefs vowed tonight to increase pressure on schools to improve sex education after a shocking survey revealed three-quarters of teenagers are not taught the subject.

The Department of Education said schools are obliged to provide a relationship and sexuality programme to senior pupils and they would be reminded of their commitments.

The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (Asti) backed the move.

According to a report from Dáil na nOg, which surveyed hundreds of teenagers at school, four out of 10 pupils said the classes were not helpful the way they were taught.

The study, Life Skills Matter – Not Just Points, also revealed a third of schools teach Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) as part of religion.

Dr Colette Bonner, the Department of Health’s deputy chief medical officer, said the 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 19 years group and a further 60% occur in the 20-29 years age group,” she said.

“Clearly this emphasises the importance of sexual health information which is appropriate and factual.”

Dr Bonner called for properly trained professionals to teach teens about relationships, sex and sexuality.

Some 45% of 220 students surveyed said some classes were given by guest speakers from medical backgrounds, crisis pregnancy agencies, rape crisis centres and religious groups.

Most students criticised the religious speakers claiming homosexuality was ridiculed while Catholic lecturers gave biased, untrue and misguided facts.

A total of 354 young people took part in the survey – 134 from 68 schools took part in the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) survey and 220 from 94 schools took part in the RSE study.

The curriculum states that SPHE should be taught from primary to third year and RSE on up to sixth year.

Moira Leyden, education and research officer with Asti, backed the department’s plans to contact school chiefs and boards of management to raise the importance of personal and social development and relationship and sex education.

“It is the most efficient thing the department can do and I think it will be the best thing,” she said.

Ms Leyden pointed to problems facing schools including curriculum overload and the need to upskill teachers to avoid a discomfort zone.

“If you want the skills to really deliver good programmes you have to provide the training,” she said.

Children’s Minister Barry Andrews said: “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.

“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.”

Alice Kinsella, 17, from Mayo, a blogger with the Voices of Youth group, said: “Sex education in schools is, in my opinion, currently insufficient.

“There is a deep-rooted embarrassment that is yet to be overcome by both teachers and students.”