Teachers to stay in class for external guidance
Schools have been told to ensure teachers stay in class when visitors are providing programmes on personal health, sex education, or other aspects of wellbeing.
The advice comes in detailed guidance about the use of external programmes and course providers for wellbeing initiatives for pupils.
The eight-page circular offers best practice guidance to primary and second-level schools around the use of external facilitators and programmes which may be used to deliver wellbeing. It updates guidance issued in 2010 on visitors to schools in the delivery of social and personal health education (SPHE) or relationships and sexuality education (RSE).
Schools have been told best practice criteria would see external facilitators always work under the relevant classroom teacher’s guidance and supervision. It says the teacher should remain in the room with students at all times and retain a central role in delivery of the subject matter.
“Absence of the teacher may undermine the integrity of the curriculum, and the credibility and professionalism of the teacher,” states the guidance letter. “It may also compromise the safety of the students.”
The advice relates both to one-off speakers and those delivering programmes over a period of time, but with a particular focus on the selection of programmes and facilitators for SPHE and RSE. It tells school boards that the management, principals, and teachers have a duty to provide the best quality and the most appropriate education in order to promote their students’ wellbeing.
They also have a duty to protect students in their care at all times from any potentially harmful, inappropriate, or misguided resources, interventions, or programmes,” states the circular letter.
Where a school is considering the introduction of a suicide prevention programme in the aftermath of a suicide tragedy, they are advised to consult closely with those involved in co-ordinated responses from services such as the National Educational Psychological Service or the HSE’s child and adolescent mental health services.
While programmes aimed at reducing suicidal behaviour among young people may have positive outcomes for some, the department cautions they may also have unintended negative consequences for other students.
“Safety and appropriate support of all students is paramount and particular consideration should be given to the potential risks of delivering the proposed programme, any vulnerabilities that exist within the group of students, and how any programme on suicide awareness/mental health promotion ensures safety and support for the audience during and after the delivery of the programme,” wrote the department.
Education Minister Joe McHugh brought the letter, which issued in July with an instruction to apply the advice with immediate effect, to the attention of the Oireachtas education committee last week.
Fianna Fáil education spokesman Thomas Byrne welcomed the intervention, saying he had concerns that there would otherwise be justified questions if, at some stage, an incident happens when an inappropriate person was allowed into classrooms.
The 4,000 primary and second-level schools are advised that the qualified classroom teacher is the best-placed professional to work sensitively and consistently with students.
