Minister for Education, Batt O’Keefe, has said he believes that the controversial Stay Safe child programme should be mandatory in all 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 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.