§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the value of peer education projects as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. [70718]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education regarding (a) the promotion and take up of peer education projects in schools, (b) action to promote the take up of peer education projects in schools and (c) the incorporation of peer education projects into the National Curriculum, as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. [70719]
(3) what plans he has in place to increase funding for peer education projects as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. [70720]
§ Ms BlearsPeer education is recognised as having the potential to contribute to the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy by complementing classroom based Sex and Relationships Education (SRE). This is reflected in key SRE guidance documents (DfES, 2000; Ofsted, 2002). The Teenage Pregnancy Unit is working closely with the Department for Education and Skills to disseminate effective peer education approaches more widely.
The available research evidence concludes that peer education can be effective in increasing young people's knowledge, can have positive impact on attitudes, intentions and self-esteem and, in some instances, can change behaviour. Young people like peer approaches; involvement in programmes raises the self-esteem of peer educators; and peer education projects give young people control over their own health.
The Teenage Pregnancy Unit is funding a limited evaluation of a peer education programme called "A PAUSE" developed by Exeter University. The evaluation includes investigating the transferability of the 1388W programme to deprived areas and the potential to develop the programme for those at an increased risk of teenage pregnancy. The evaluation is due to report in March 2003.
The Teenage Pregnancy Unit has recently published "Involving Young People in Peer Education: A Guide to Establishing Sex and Relationships Peer Education Projects". This document aims to support those setting up SRE peer education projects and encourage good practice. Copies will be sent to every secondary school at the start of the new school year. The document will also be disseminated to local teenage pregnancy co-ordinators, National Healthy Schools co-ordinators and Initial Teacher Training providers.
The Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship framework provides pupils with opportunities to engage in peer related projects. There are no plans to include peer education within the national curriculum. The Department for Education and Skills is developing its PSHE website for teachers to include examples of where peer education programmes are working well.
Local teenage pregnancy partnership boards draw on a range of funding sources, including the Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation Grant, to support projects which contribute to the local teenage pregnancy strategy. £16 million is available through the Local Implementation Grant during the current financial year. The level of funding planned for future years has not yet been decided.