Madam, - We are concerned at the Department of Education and Science's lack of action with regard to the Exploring Masculinities programme designed for use with senior cycle post-primary schoolboys and aimed at addressing issues of personal development, health and wellbeing. This inaction is very regrettable, especially in the context of the dramatic and tragic increase in youth suicide we have seen since 1990; something in the order of 400 per cent.
Indeed, given that we now have one of the highest male to female suicide ratios in the world (currently approaching 5.5 male suicides for every one female suicide for in the youth category of 15-24 years) this is not the time to be discarding one of the few initiatives that explores Irish gender roles. International best practice indicates that programmes such as Exploring Masculinities can play an important role in assisting the development of healthy, balanced adolescents. Despite certain difficulties with this programme, we are unaware of any initiative to facilitate its implementation in the coming school year. Furthermore, the Department's refusal to publish or make available the findings of an independent review of the programme to interested parties is totally unacceptable and speaks to its lack of commitment to the programme.
A considerable amount of controversy initially surrounded the programme, suggesting an unwillingness to deal with issues of sexuality, relationships, violence and mental health.
However, the majority of teachers we have spoken to in the course of our work on suicide prevention have supported the programme and recognise the important role it may play in the holistic development of their students.
We believe it is incumbent on the Department of Education and Science to implement and/or revise the Exploring Masculinities programme in an energetic, public and transparent manner. -Yours etc.,
CAROLINE SMYTH,
MALCOLM MacLACHLAN,
Department of Psychology,
Trinity College,
Dublin.