Primary School Curriculum not adequately addressing mental health issues.

Surveys raise serious concerns

Official figures show that 60 children between the ages of 5 and 14 years have taken their own lives in the last 20 years. This places the spotlight firmly on mental health supports in our nations 3,350 Primary schools, and also on the appropriateness of the present Primary curriculum in supporting positive mental health and wellbeing. This is the message which is today (Friday, May 14th), delivered by the Director of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network(IPPN), Mr Sean Cottrell to 400 Deputy Principals at the Annual IPPN Deputy Principal’s Conference in the City West Hotel, Dublin.

Two recent surveys by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network of almost 1,000 school Principals clearly indicate that neglect and bullying impact most negatively on children’s welfare and contribute significantly to deteriorating mental health in Primary school going children. Seven out of every 10 Principals who responded identified neglect in particular as the greatest challenge.

’Just think of the reality of children’s lives today. They have to contend with peer pressure in relation to alcohol, drugs and personal appearance as well as bullying, neglect, homophobia and racism. The challenges that previously were only experienced at Second Level are becoming very real in Primary Schools. Many children, girls in particular, are becoming anxious and unhappy about their weight and self image. Some of these children can be as young as eight. In addition, the deliberate sexualisation of children in music, film, TV and magazine will have devastating consequences’, states Mr Cottrell.

The IPPN Director feels that the primary school curriculum in its present format will do little to reverse these disturbing trends.

‘The curriculum allocates just one hour per week to PE and only 30 minutes per week to Social, Personal and Health Education, a subject central to positive mental health. This does not meet the reality of children’s lives today. Is it not time that school leaders and teachers were trusted to know what areas of the curriculum are most appropriate and relevant for children in their care. In Finland, placing such trust has delivered outcomes that are now the envy of most developed nations’, continues the Director.      

According to the survey, only one in ten Principals consider that the PE and SPHE programmes being taught in our Primary schools meet the child’s requirements.

 In addition, a second IPPN survey has revealed that a staggering 87% of Principals have seen an increase in incidences of emotional disturbance in our school going children while just over 50% have identified increased incidences of depression and violent behaviours. Almost every principal who responded to the survey reported increased diagnoses of attention disorders and anxiety amongst children.

‘Of course schools are not the panacea to solve all the social ills of our time, but now, more than ever, they have a vital role to play in the social, emotional and psychological development of the child. We urgently need to examine how our primary education system can best equip children with a far deeper and broader range of inter and intra personal skills that will be so vital for the lives they will live,’ concludes Mr Cottrell.