Sub Heading And Date Teacher Education in Health Education and Promotion – The Irish Perspective. Patricia Mannix McNamara, University of Limerick, Ireland.

Health Promotion in Ireland in schools is currently curriculum based: Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) (primary and post primary). Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) (primary and post primary). Currently no formal qualification for teachers although initial dialogue is beginning… Teachers of SPHE are expected to complete 40 hours of in-service provision provided by the National SPHE Support Service. Current School Health Promotion provision Patricia Mannix McNamara,

The National Support Service is a partnership between: a)the Health Service Executive (a health promotion officer (HPO) in each region is asked to commit a third of their role to this and b) b) the Department of Education and Science who appoints seconded teachers (full time) called regional development officers (RDOs) Teachers volunteer or principals recommend to them to do in- service, they attend 4o hours professional development to become SPHE teachers. SPHE Professional Development Provision Patricia Mannix McNamara,

University of Limerick Pilot Project In the academic year 2007/08 the Department of Education and Professional Studies offered a full SPHE module as an elective to 2 post-graduate teacher education programmes 1.Graduate Diploma Education (Physical Education) 2.Graduate Diploma Education (Business) All students opted for the elective module (40 hours) which required experiential learning, critical reflection, teaching SPHE while on practicum and assessment. Our optimum = a specific qualification - post graduate diploma in SPHE and SPHE integrated across 4 years undergrad Patricia Mannix McNamara,