What qualifications are required to teach the Personal Social Health Education element of the curriculum

3.5 Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour of the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture regarding the qualifications required to teach the Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) element of the curriculum:

Can the Minister advise the Assembly what qualifications, if any, are required to teach the Personal Social Health Education element of the curriculum?

Deputy J.G. Reed of St. Ouen (The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture):

All teachers who teach Personal, Social and Health Education in our schools are qualified teachers. The majority are usually subject specialists in other areas.

1. Deputy J.M. Maçon:

Therefore, is the Minister saying that specifically for the P.S.H.E. (Personal Social Health Education) education element of the curriculum there are no formal qualifications required to teach these very important subjects, such as education on alcohol awareness, contraception, drugs awareness, all these very important social skills which we are failing within our society at the moment?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

I am not saying that. Indeed, it is possible to obtain a teaching qualification in Personal, Social Health Education and we do have a number of teachers in our schools with this qualification. Furthermore, where appropriate, the curriculum receives support from a number of external agencies and organisations who are able to provide specialist advice and knowledge in the particular aspect under consideration. In this way, I believe our students benefit from that expert knowledge, as well as support from our teaching staff.

2. The Deputy of Grouville :

As the teaching of local politics is carried out and P.S.H.E. is part of the Citizenship Programme, does the Minister recognise there is an issue and a need to train the trainers?  If so, what is he doing about it?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

I do not believe that we need to necessarily educate or train our teachers to educate our children within the political issues that are clearly of concern to the Deputy . However, we do encourage, within the Citizenship Programme, involvement from States Members and Scrutiny. It is in this respect that I think the students will gain the greatest benefit.

3. The Deputy of Grouville :

I fully accept that and as one of the politicians who attends a school on a regular basis to teach local politics I am aware that there are other politicians here that also do likewise. However, there is - and surely he must recognise this - a need to train the teachers. Does he not recognise this fact?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

I am aware that we need to improve the education of our youngsters in all aspects, including the way that this Island is governed. I believe also that we are working with primary school children so that they can better understand how our government works. I would be happy to discuss with Members how best to pursue and develop this particular aspect of the programme.

4. Deputy S. Pitman of St. Helier :

Given the enormous and ever-increasing amount of issues that teachers are currently forced to try and cover adequately within the Citizenship Programme, will the Minister consider reviewing this with his department?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

Sorry, I could not hear what the Deputy was saying. The Deputy Bailiff :

Could you repeat the question, Deputy , please? Deputy S. Pitman:

Given the enormous and ever-increasing amount of issues teachers are currently forced to try and cover adequately within the Citizenship Programme, will the Minister consider reviewing this with his department?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

A review of this whole part of the curriculum has started and will be completed by

July next year. One of the outcomes of this review will certainly  be additional

training for teachers in this area and I am sure some new resources.

5. Deputy G.P. Southern :

Will the Minister  give details to Members of (a)  the details of the qualification currently undertaken, how many teachers have undertaken that qualification, and (b) will he outline to Members what arrangements he intends to make so that those with a vote in our schools and colleges, in 2 years' time, are allowed reasonable access to politicians standing?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

I have not got the details of the qualifications to hand, but I will provide that to the Deputy . Equally, I am working with the department to ensure that those of voting age will properly understand their opportunity and grasp the opportunity to get involved in the next elections.

6. Deputy G.P. Southern :

Will he enable greater access better than in the last elections which, quite frankly, was pitiful?

The Deputy of St. Ouen : Yes.

7. Deputy M. Tadier :

Just some clarification. In response to the first question by Deputy Maçon, the Minister said that the majority of teachers of P.S.H.E. are specialists in other areas. Given that it is not possible, or as far as I know that none of our teachers here are

specifically and uniquely trained in P.S.H.E., does the Minister rather mean that all of

those teachers are specialists in other areas, not just the majority? The Deputy of St. Ouen :

No, they will be specialists in geography, biology, science and other areas which obviously play a part in the understanding of the particular issues involved. Furthermore, there is and it is possible, as I have already stated, to obtain a particular qualification in Personal, Social Health Education. We do have teachers within our schools - and I will endeavour to provide the number of those teachers to the Deputy - who have this particular qualification.

8. Deputy M. Tadier :

I thank the Minister for that clarification, but so we can be even clearer, it is not possible, as far as I know, to take a P.G.C.E (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) in P.S.H.E. I think that is what we are asking. So, teachers will train in their specific subjects and then be asked to additionally teach P.S.H.E., but not necessarily to be qualified uniquely in that subject.

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

The information that I have been provided with indicates that teachers can obtain a qualification in this particular subject. Thank you.

9. The Deputy of St. Mary :

Can the Minister outline the support available to teachers in the fields of global citizenship; for instance, global justice and environmental education?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

In each school we have a co-ordinator whose responsibility it is to develop the programme of study, provide the teachers with appropriate teaching resources, and indeed provide professional development where necessary. I would expect that the particular areas that the Deputy has highlighted would be included and covered by the co-ordinator within the school system.

10. The Deputy of St. Mary :

May I add a supplementary to that? There was talk a couple of years ago of having a

full-time adviser for environmental education, given the breadth and complexity of

the issues. I wonder where that has got to within the department. The Deputy of St. Ouen :

I am unable to answer that question. As I understand it, I believe that we utilise teachers with a knowledge of geography and science to support the development and understanding of our children.

11. Deputy J.M. Maçon:

I am glad the Minister has informed the House of the qualification that teachers can obtain. However, can the Minister please explain how this qualification is specific to Jersey and how it specifically covers our political makeup and system?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

As the Deputy is well aware, this particular curriculum, the P.S.H.E. curriculum, covers a wide range of subjects not necessarily simply about politics and the Island's Government. As such, we need to utilise, as I said before, external agencies and organisations to provide that increased knowledge and understanding to our students.