'Targeted attacks' on DCU staff after false video claims

Dublin City University has said academic staff at the college have been subjected to targeted attacks including threats of violence, misogynistic and homophobic slurs and libelous remarks as a result of a video released on social media which made false claims about a new curriculum in schools.

The college runs a Graduate Diploma in Social, Personal and Health Education/Relationships and Sexuality Education, which trains teachers to deliver the new school programme.

It says there has been a concerted disinformation campaign about the new SPHE post primary course which has been introduced at Junior Cycle and is due to be introduced at Senior Cycle in coming years.

The university says the disinformation is directed at course content and what will be taught to children.

The DCU course is aimed at upskilling teachers to teach the new programme.

The college has said the video completely misrepresented the course and the materials on it. The DCU course is funded by the Department of Education.

'Targeted attacks on academic staff' - DCU statement

"This [disinformation] campaign purposefully conflates what is taught to teachers on the Graduate Diploma programme so that they have a broader knowledge of the SPHE/RSE area, and what is actually taught to secondary students in accordance with the national curriculum", the college said in a statement.

"It has led to targeted attacks on the academic staff who teach the course, with unacceptable threats of violence, misogynistic and homophobic slurs, and libellous remarks being made on social media, in comment sections on articles about the course and over email."

DCU said it is "exploring all legal recourse in relation to these matters".

It said the aim of the course was to help second level teachers teach the new SPHE/RSE curriculum and "to empower them to help children and young people through what can be an incredibly challenging time of their lives".

Read more: Huge demand from teachers for SPHE training supports

The new SPHE course deals with topics such as mental health and wellbeing, consent, sexuality, respect and relationships.

"Supporting and safeguarding children, and educating them, according to the curriculum, is the number one priority for both teachers and DCU", the DCU statement said.

It said materials used on the Graduate Diploma are provided only to the teachers as adults in the context of their broader SPHE/RSE education on this DCU programme.

DCU 'stands firmly' over course content

"It is made clear by DCU that no graphic or explicit material is intended for use by teachers in a secondary school classroom setting."

DCU said any claims that say otherwise were "completely false".

"The university stands firmly over the content of the course, and stands fully behind the academic staff who deliver it."

SPHE curriculum for Junior, Senior Cycle students

A revised Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum was introduced in schools last year. A new syllabus is due to be brought in for Senior Cycle students in 2027, and for the first time it will be mandatory for all schools to deliver it.

Currently fewer than 20% of post primary schools timetable SPHE classes for senior cycle students.

This means many older teens receive little or no personal health education in their final school years.

The new syllabus focusses on the emotional wellbeing of young people, and how to manage mental health challenges. It aims to support them to develop the skills needed for healthy relationships.

It also addresses Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV)- helping young people to recognise violent and abusive relationships and develop an awareness of their rights and protections under the law.

Topics include themes addressed in the new Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum, such as consent, pornography, sexual health, and how to stay safe when socialising, both in person and online.

A third strand is geared towards helping students prepare for the transition from school to adult life beyond.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment says the main drivers for change in the SPHE curriculum include "growing evidence of the challenges that young people in Ireland face as they navigate growing up today, coupled with evidence of the important role that school-based health education programmes can play in supporting young people's social, emotional and physical wellbeing".

A draft curriculum was published in May of 2023 after consultation with education partners. The NCCA says it carried out extensive consultation with students, teachers and school leaders before finalising the programme.

The full SPHE/RSE curriculum for Junior and Senior Cycles are available on curriculumonline.ie.

Ireland's primary and post-primary school curricula are set by the Minister for Education who is advised by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.