Women’s Council calls for new curriculum tackling misogyny to be mandatory in schools

The National Women’s Council (NWC) said: 'The SPHE curricula has the potential to transform children and young people’s perceptions of gender and gender stereotypes and is a crucial opportunity to advance gender equality.' File photo: Danny Lawson/PA

A new Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum must be mandatory in all schools, primary and secondary, to tackle the root cause of gender-based violence, the National Women’s Council (NWC) has said.

Violence against women is at epidemic levels in Ireland, with Women’s Aid receiving over 40,000 disclosures of domestic abuse in 2023, the NWC said.

In the same year, gardaí received a domestic abuse call every 10 minutes. And 52% of women will experience sexual violence in their lifetimes.

While recent developments in legislation and policy are to be welcomed, the National Women’s Council says the root cause of violence against women — misogyny — must be tackled.

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“With the implementation of new SPHE curricula at secondary level, and a new curriculum for primary schools in the pipeline, it is very welcome to see the age-appropriate inclusion of topics like consent and mutual respect in our school system,” a statement from the NWC said.

“The SPHE curricula has the potential to transform children and young people’s perceptions of gender and gender stereotypes and is a crucial opportunity to advance gender equality."

NWC’s Women’s Health Coordinator Doireann Crosson said:  “SPHE should be mandatory in primary and post-primary schools. 

"Research shows that Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) leads to healthier relationships, improves self-esteem, and is crucial to preventing gender-based violence. 

Our national strategy on violence against women strongly recommends a reformed school curricula which can focus on issues like gender stereotypes, intimate partner abuse, and the harms of pornography. 

"It’s also important that a whole school approach is taken, involving parents and the community, alongside students and school stakeholders.” 

New graduates and existing teachers must be equipped with the training and resources necessary, including on issues of gender equality, to implement the new curricula properly, the NWC said.