Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı Okul Öncesi ve İlköğretim Programları İçerisindeki Sağlık Eğitimi Konularının Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Health education program at schools is a significant part of the education up to K-12, as it provides the knowledge and skills required for the children and young people to be healthy and successful when they reach adulthood. This descriptive type research is aimed to examine the health education topics in current preschool and elementary school programs in Turkey. For this purpose, the health education topics in the most recent 2017 elementary school curriculum published by Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education (MNE) Board of Education were examined in terms of the current status of goals and contents components of the program. It was compared to Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool designed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is still no separate health education curriculum at elementary school level in formal education in Turkey. When the health education topics within the courses in MNE are examined, “healthy eating” topic is included in cognitive level in course outcomes (objectives) of preschool-5th grades (Knowledge expectations summaries: 78% and 81%). MNE skill outcomes for “mental and emotional health” and “personal health and wellness” topics are “mostly available in high level”. “Safety” topic in elementary school 3rd-5th grades’ course outcomes were found to be at a “high level” (Knowledge expectations summary: %71) while it has been determined that MNE outcomes in terms of “sexual health”, “physical activity” and “tobacco” topics were included at a “low level” almost nonexistent. While the existing scope of MNE programs in terms of certain topics at cognitive level is significant, it is not effective in behavior development and also it is not sufficient in terms of concepts regarding health education. It has been found that health education topics in MNE programs are not sufficient, and existing topics are not discussed in a continuous and comprehensive way. Within this scope, future recommendations in relation to health education have been developed based on the results of this research.