A teaching union has said that the Department of Education must become involved in a strategy aimed at ending domestic and sexual abuse in Northern Ireland.
Earlier this month, Stormont launched the Domestic and Sexual Abuse (DSA) Strategy in a joint effort from the Department of Justice and Department of Health.
However, the general secretary of the Ulster Teachers’ Union, Jacquie White, believes the strategy must be properly funded and should be followed by the appropriate teaching of relationship and sexuality education (RSE) in schools.
It came as Stormont also launched a strategic framework for ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG) and charts a way forward until 2031.
Ms White said teachers are often the ones left dealing with the effects on children, and support for their role should include the implementation of RSE in schools.
She added that the Department of Education must also become involved in the DSA Strategy.
“Of course, the launch of a strategy is to be welcomed,” she said, “but there is always the fear that a lack of funding will limit the value it has in society.
“It’s disheartening that even at the launch of such a crucial strategy, Justice Minister Naomi Long was forced to acknowledge that there will be ‘limited resources available’.
“An effective, properly funded programme would change lives for people, especially children caught up in these unimaginable situations.”
Jacquie White, general secretary of the Ulster Teachers’ Union
As part of the wider picture, Ms White said schools need to be in the right position to support the children affected.
“Schools have already seen the effectiveness of the Operation Encompass programme, where the school is informed by police of a domestic violence incident involving a child, before that child goes to school the next day,” said Ms White.
“That makes a huge difference when the school can have supports in action right away, in a location they can feel safe and secure.
“The school and the staff play such a central role in a child’s life — and that should never be taken for granted or undervalued.
“It is time now that the Department of Education plays its part and revisits the implementation of the relationship and sexuality education curriculum to help equip young people with the skills they need to recognise the signs of an unhealthy relationship, keep themselves safe and break free from this cycle of behaviour.”
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Alliance MLA Connie Egan had asked Education Minister Paul Givan how he will deliver “on actions attributed to his department” in the EVAWG strategy in an Assembly question.
In response last week, Mr Givan said that addressing violence against women and girls is an issue for “all areas of society, and education has a role in supporting that”.
“The delivery plan brings into sharp focus my department’s responsibilities, and we will consider how the curriculum can support the wider strategy, with schools having an important role to play in addressing violence against women and girls,” he said.
“My department will contribute to the delivery plan and is establishing an oversight group to decide how the actions it is required to take forward will be delivered together with key delivery partners including the Executive Office.
“This will include engagement with stakeholders. Officials will bring forward recommendations for my consideration in due course. I will want to consider whether any agreed actions should to be brought to the Executive.
“Our curriculum is already designed to provide opportunities to educate young people to develop healthy relationships.
“Pupils have the opportunity to explore their management of a range of feelings and emotions, and those of others, initiating, developing and sustaining mutually satisfying relationships; [and to] explore the qualities of a loving, respectful relationship and develop coping strategies to deal with challenging relationship scenarios.”