THE MINISTER for Education has signalled that the Stay Safe child protection programme should be mandatory in all schools.
Batt O’Keeffe said last night it was his intention to have the programme included as a mandatory requirement for all schools as part of new arrangements which emerge from a working party, currently examining child protection in schools.
Introduced in September 1991, the programme was initially much criticised by conservative Catholic groups. However, it is now an accepted part of school life in most schools.
The current child protection guidelines and procedures issued to all schools by the Department of Education are based on Children First, the Department of Health and Children’s national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children.
The Department of Health and Children is completing a review and updating of Children First.
Last year, the Department of Education wrote to all education partners (teacher unions, school management bodies and others) inviting submissions on potential changes to existing child protection guidelines to schools. The education partners were also invited to participate in a working party to review the guidelines which has already begun its work.
As part of the whole school evaluation process in schools, Department of Education inspectors routinely check that child protection policies are in place and that a designated liaison person has been appointed.
The INTO said last night that much of the Stay Safe programme was routinely taught in schools as part of social, personal and health education. In the area of personal safety children, are taught to identify situations and places that may threaten their personal safety.
The union said measures that enhanced child safety would be supported by teachers.
The INTO added that there was clear evidence in schools of high standards in the area of child protection. It said a hundred school reports were published since September last year and every school complied with Department of Education and Science regulations.
All of the schools had adopted the child protection guidelines for primary schools. All schools had appointed a designated liaison person (DLP) and a deputy DLP in line with the guidelines.
However the union also called for more support from the Government. It said resources needed to be made available to ensure that all personnel working with children in schools got regular and appropriate training in these guidelines.