Aims

The aims of social, personal and health education are:

To promote the personal development and well-being of the child
To foster in the child a sense of care and respect for himself and others and an appreciation of the dignity of every human being
To promote the health of the child and provide a foundation for healthy living
To enable the child to make informed decisions and choices about the social, personal and health dimensions of life
To develop in the child a sense of social responsibility
To enable the child to respect human and cultural diversity

The SPHE curriculum should enable the child to:

Be self-confident and have a positive sense of self-esteem
Develop a sense of personal responsibility
Develop and enhance the social skills of communication, co-operation and conflict resolution
Create and maintain supportive relationships
Develop an understanding of healthy living
Develop a sense of safety
Make decisions, solve problems and take appropriate actions in various personal, social and health contexts
Begin to identify, review and evaluate the values and attitudes that are held by individuals and society
Respect the environment
Develop some of the skills and abilities necessary for participating fully in groups and society
Become aware of individual and community rights
Begin to understand the concepts of personal, local, national, European and global identity
Appreciate and respect the diversity that exists in society
Promote the values of a just and caring society in an age-appropriate manner