About 10 per cent of post-primary schools have still not implemented the sex education programme, Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), it has emerged.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Department of Education discloses that about 84 per cent of schools had implemented RSE as of 2000-2001.
A spokeswoman said yesterday the figure had risen since then.
However, it appears that at least 10 per cent of schools have still not implemented the programme.
Schools report major problems implementing RSE. According to a report by Dr Mark Morgan, published two years ago, an overcrowded curriculum is the main factor hindering implementation of the programme.
RSE is the main method of providing sex education to pupils.
The programme, which begins in primary school, looks at the whole area of sexuality and relationships. If parents object to it, they are entitled to provide such education at home.
The programme - which is popular among teachers - has run into serious difficulties in some schools.
For example, research has found that schools lack sufficient materials to teach RSE, while others do not have enough trained teachers.
Objections from parents are widespread in some areas of the country, and in Dr Morgan's study over 30 per cent of schools said "vigorous" objections from parents were a serious hindrance to implementing the programme.
The Department of Education said in the material released under the Freedom of Information Act that it did not maintain a list of schools which had failed to implement programme.
"There is no documentation available which identifies the specific schools that have not implemented the RSE programme," said its letter.
However, the Department is preparing a new survey of social, personal and health education in schools and this will include specific questions about RSE.
The results of that work are expected to be available some time in 2003.