New SPHE curriculum ‘ignores’ spiritual wellbeing

24th November 2023

Catholic schools’ bodies have warned that a draft for a new SPHE curriculum for Senior Cycle “ignores” and “underplays” spiritual wellbeing.

The Association of Patrons and Trustees of Catholic Schools (APTCS) broadly welcomed the curriculum’s revision, but said it is “imperative” that schools can exercise their right to “approach the curriculum from the perspective of their own characteristic spirit”. This right is upheld by the Education Act.

The APTCS expressed “great concern” that “religion, spirituality and values seem to be ignored when all of them play a very important role in the development of young people,” the body said in their submission.

Concerns regarding the absence of spirituality from the new course were also raised by the Joint Managerial Body/Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools (JMB/AMCSS).

“Education cannot be deemed to be holistic in any sense if it ignores either our actions or the spiritual or moral basis of the values that inform such actions,” the body said in their submission.

They stressed the importance of proper engagement with parents when schools introduced the revised curriculum, to ensure a “trusting relationship” between schools and parents.