Comprehensive Sexuality Education
1. Context and background
The Republic of Türkiye is situated both in Europe and Asia. Youth under the age of 30 comprise half of the population, which is higher than other European countries. Though maternal and infant mortality rates have decreased in recent decades, the rates are still above regional averages. According to the 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey, about one out of ten women surveyed had their first child before the age of 18, a statistic which is currently showing a downward trend. Contraceptive use has decreased in recent years. S out of ten women use some form of contraceptive and about half use modern methods. Only a quarter of women had correct knowledge of the fertile period. Adolescents between the ages of 15-19 had the lowest correct knowledge of the fertile period.
In Türkiye, there is no formal sexuality education in primary or secondary education. Students mostly gain sexuality education information from their peers or the media. Aspects of sexuality education can be found in the secondary education biology curriculum.
2. Terminology
As there is no formal sexuality education in the country, no official definitions could be found. No other terms covering the topic could be found.
3. Laws and policies
3.1. Relevant international/regional agreements to which the country is a signatory
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INTERNATIONAL |
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Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Accession in 1989 |
Acknowledges the need to guarantee sexuality education free from discrimination and stereotypes, conveying gender equality values. |
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Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Ratified in 1995 |
Commits to the right to access appropriate health-related information. |
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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Ratified in 2009 |
Commits to the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities. |
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International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Ratified in 2003 |
Acknowledges that the right to sexual and reproductive health is an integral part of the right to health. |
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UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education Not Ratified |
Reaffirms that education is a human right. It highlights states' obligations to ensure free and compulsory education, bans any form of discrimination and promotes equality of educational opportunity |
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The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action Attended the conference |
Calls for sexuality education, counselling and support mechanisms for adolescents, and identifies essential topics. |
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UN General Assembly 2016 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS |
Includes commitments and calls to scale up and/or attention to scientifically accurate age- and culturally appropriate comprehensive sexuality education. |
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Commission on the Status of Women 2016 Resolution on Women, the Girl Child and HIV and AIDS Member state |
Includes commitments to make universally accessible and available quality comprehensive sexual and reproductive health-care services, commodities, information and education. |
3.2. Relevant national laws and policies mandating comprehensive sexuality education
The 1982 Constitution of Turkey (amended in 2017) gives all citizens the right to education and makes education free and compulsory for both sexes at the primary level. It is the responsibility of the state to regulate central planning and functioning of the health services to ensure that everyone leads a healthy life physically and mentally. In line with the Constitution, men and women have equal rights, and there should be equality between spouses. The state must also protect mothers and children. Article 58 focuses on youth, stating that: ‘The State shall take measures to ensure the education and development of the youth... [and] take necessary measures to protect youth from addiction to alcohol and drugs, crime, gambling, and similar vices, and ignorance.’
While there is no specific law governing the youth, it is assumed that the 2011 Legislative Decree Number 638 on the Organization and Duties of the Ministry of Youth and Sports functions similarly. The legislation includes sections that focus on increasing measures for the protection of youth health. This includes activities such as ‘carry[ing] out work on informing young people and families sufficiently on subjects such as health, nutrition, obesity and sports activities.’ The related Youth and Sports Policy Document under the Ministry of Sports calls for equality in the education system. It also emphasizes the importance of family values, stating that students should learn important relationship skills such as communication, psychology, and independent thinking. Families play a key role in the upbringing of young people and negative social influences include ‘smoking, alcohol, drugs, addiction, violence, early marriages, and early pregnancies’. Strategies to ensure wellbeing among the youth include: raising awareness of young people in the areas of gender equality, family and marriage; counselling for families and young people about adolescence; human rights education activities and awareness raising activities; and providing services for young women in education, health and political participation.
The 1973 Basic Law of National Education states that the purpose of general education is to educate citizens to have a balanced and well-developed personality and character in terms of the body, mind, emotions, morality and spirituality. It is also to develop in young people the capacity for free and scientific thinking, to have a global perspective, to respect human rights, to value personality and personal enterprise, and a sense of social responsibility. Non-formal education might cover necessary nutrition and adopting healthy lifestyles. The Ministry of Education’s 2019-2023 Strategic Plan, as well as the previous 2015-2019 Strategic Plan and the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan (which is in progress) do not mention sexuality education, health education, or any related topics.
The 2019-2023 Ministry of Health Strategic Plan mentions reproductive health counselling and public training in this; however, this is not discussed in relation to schools. The Ministry of Health has also developed the ‘2019-2024 Road Map to Fight HIV/AIDS’, which will address the risk factors involved in the spreading of HIV. As part of this programme, the Turkish Ministry of Education plans to integrate HIV education into the national curriculum.
The'2005 Turkish Penal Code states that ‘no discrimination shall be made between persons with respect of sex’ The 2009 Law for the Equal Opportunities Commission for Women and Men, Law no 5840, established a commission to eliminate gender-based discrimination at all levels of public life. The 2008-2013 National Action Plan for Societal Gender Equality focuses on the elimination of gender-based inequality in education, health, poverty, and access to decision-making processes.
3.3. Curricula
Mandatory or optional
Sexuality education is not mandated to be taught in the Turkish curriculum. Aspects of it are covered in the national curricula.
Model of delivery
Aspects of sexuality education are integrated into the secondary education Biology curriculum, and the primary education Life Sciences curriculum.
Comprehensiveness of content
The 2018 Biology Curriculum covers the reproductive system and embryonic development. Students learn about the structure and function of the reproductive system, including information about the menstrual cycle. While the current primary education Life Studies curriculum was not accessible, earlier research on the past curriculum indicates that the life sciences subject covered topics such as healthy intellectual and social development; healthy living habits; healthy physical development; and positive social relations. The study found that any content directly or indirectly related to sexuality and sexual health was not included in the curricula. As part of the 2019-2024 Road Map to Fight with HIV/AIDS, the Turkish Ministry of Education aims to integrate HIV education into the national curriculum. Although there are sexuality education peer programmes, the Ministry of Education does not allow peer education interventions on SRH in schools.
Learning resources
The Ministry of Health has developed a booklet on AIDS prevention with the support of UNICEF.
3.4. Teachers
Teacher preparedness and capacity building: No information was found.
Whether teachers are mandated to be trained on provision/delivery of sexuality education either as part of PRESET or INSET: Educators are trained and assessed periodically to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. In-service training is provided to individuals to improve their professional knowledge and skills. However, details about training on sexuality education could not be found.
3.5. Schools
Access to school-based health services, including SRH: SRH services are provided by public health centres. While students do learn about effective use of health services, there is no referral method between schools and health centres.
4. Governance
4.1 Responsible ministries
The Ministry of Youth and Sports is the principal public authority responsible for carrying out, supporting and coordinating the activities aimed at youth development.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for managing the education system in the country. The ministry determines the curriculum for the schools, including determining what is included in science courses.
The Ministry of Health conducts training in reproductive health for pregnant mothers and other members of the public. However, this does not seem to be linked to schools.
4.2. Level of responsibility/decentralization and autonomy
Teachers have played an important role in contributing to the development of education programmes and the curricula. Teachers do have some flexibility regarding instructional planning and implementation. However, they are not permitted to change the curriculum.
4.3. Government budget allocation
No information was found.
5. Monitoring and reporting
The Board of Education and Training, the General Directorate of Basic Education, and the Monitoring and Evaluation Departments of the General Directorate of Secondary Education jointly carry out the monitoring and evaluation processes of the curriculum, using quantitative and qualitative research methods. However, further details on the monitoring and evaluation of sexuality education in schools were not found.
