The controversial programme for transition-year students, Exploring Masculinities, looks set to be retained in schools, as a new report has found no evidence that it is damaging to young men.
The programme is facing a legal challenge and fierce opposition from some parents groups that claim it presents negative stereotypes of young males and undermines their self-confidence.
Preliminary findings of a review ordered by the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, has found no evidence of potential damage. The draft report - seen by The Irish Times - says teachers find using the programme a positive experience but it says greater parental involvement is needed.
The draft report by three leading academics was recently presented to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) which is carrying out the review for the Minister.
The findings are likely to reignite the debate. The Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parent Associations, the biggest parents constituent body, has called for the programme to be scrapped, and it has been the subject of heated debate among teachers, academics, and men's and women's groups.
The Department of Education said it was designed to "help boys to manage their feelings and communicate".
Ms Maureen Bohan, a senior inspector with the Department, recently said it aimed "to empower boys to feel comfortable with themselves and let go of aggression or any other feelings of inadequacy which arise when they measure themselves against this ideal male who doesn't exist."
The report says the debate has been heightened because there is a lot of concern about the performance of boys in exams, high suicide rates and other problems such as drug and alcohol abuse.
The report said it was clear from "surveys, interviews and document analysis" that boys needed a social, personal and health education programme, and putting these programmes into the curriculum was emerging as a key priority in many western societies.
The authors found that experienced teachers taught Exploring Masculinities in a sophisticated and discerning way.
They added: "Some of the concern that has been expressed about Exploring Masculinities relates to potential damage to boys and young men. Reports from teachers suggest that there was no evidence of this."
However, the authors said most teachers believed the texts and video used in the programme needed to be updated and some other parts could do with revision. It said there should be a "greater elaboration on gender and domestic violence".
On parents, the report said: "There was general agreement among teachers that enhanced inclusion mechanisms, specifically in relation to the involvement of parents at all stages, were necessary". It said all programmes in the area of social, political and health education would benefit from this.
The report was written by Prof Máirtín Mac an Ghaill of the University of Newcastle, and Dr Paul Conway and Dr Joan Hanafin of UCC. The NCCA's final report on the programme will be published later this year.