| |
|
| |
Sex
Education Welcomed By Students, Families in Turkey
By Nadire Mater
Inter Press Service
|
| |
|
| |
ISTANBUL, Apr 4 (IPS) - Unprecedented for a majority Muslim
country, an official attempt to talk about sexuality in the
classroom by the Turkish Education Ministry has been welcomed
by students as well as by their families and the media. |
| |
|
| |
Meltem, a 12 year old girl Istanbul student says the campaign
is ''very good as most of us are not able to discuss the issue
with our families or seek advice from our mothers. ''This
results in our receiving unreliable information from friends
which could result in serious consequences for us.''
|
| |
|
| |
''Yet, these limited courses are unsatisfactory, I had lots
of questions to ask but could raise only a few in the one
hour (allotted),'' she points out.
|
| |
|
| |
Launched by the Ministry earlier this year following an initial
trial period, the 2-million dollar 'Puberty Project' has now
been extended countrywide and is expected to be fully implemented
within four years.
|
| |
|
| |
At present it is directed at 222,000 girls and 267,000 boys
studying in the last three grades of Istanbul's eight-year
primary school system. There are open discussions with experts
on the sexual changes during puberty for each grade separately.
|
| |
|
| |
The experts drafted from among Health Training academies spend
the first half hour talking to the students on various issues,
while the rest is reserved for questions.
|
| |
|
| |
To make the students feel more comfortable they are grouped
according to gender. The project is expected to be followed
up by two teachers of each gender from the same school whose
task will be to counsel the students throughout the year.
|
| |
|
| |
A textbook on sexual health issues was printed and distributed
among students. The campaign has been advertised on billboards,
while a questionnaire is being compiled to gather detailed
data of gender related issues among the youth as the project
unfolds.
|
| |
|
| |
The project co-ordinator, Dr Tanju Yilmazer, says that teens
comprise one third of Turkey's 64 million population ''it
is vital for those youth to be able to obtain correct and
factual knowledge on sexuality rather than rumours.''
|
| |
|
| |
While applauding the idea, women's rights groups have expressed
concern that the scope of the project will be limited to hygiene
issues rather than the more pressing health and sexual issues
as it will be influenced by the sponsors, an international
company that produces personal hygiene products.
|
| |
|
| |
''These courses are focusing more on reproduction and hygiene
than gender training, a sort of preparation for puberty,''
observes Beril Eyuboplu, an editor with the women's weekly
'Pazartesi'.
|
| |
|
| |
She said the discussion topics exclude topics like sexual
pleasure and protection which are probably of more interest
to children and which they cannot ask their family members
or friends about.
|
| |
|
| |
''While it is doubtful that the students are encouraged to
ask questions depending on what they have in their minds,
we have to admit that this is a step forward as it is definitely
better than nothing,'' she said.
|
| |
|
| |
Though most students admit to being a little shy and embarrassed,
they say they are getting used to the subject and some of
them expressed relief that they were able to ask questions
on nagging issues.
|
| |
|
| |
''We sure need sex education,'' says 13-year old Cagla. ''We
are all very curious on this matter. The boys tease us saying
'hahaha they will give you sanitary towels'. This is because
they are ignorant of girls sexuality. We are already using
pads.''
|
| |
|
| |
''The boys are mostly concerned with sexuality while the girls
are with their bodies,'' observes teacher Seyda Polite.
|
| |
|
| |
''One of the boys asked me what the difference was between
'oral sex' and 'normal sex' -- a question that I refrained
from answering,'' she said. ''We are not dealing with sex
but with sexuality I told him.''
|
| |
|
| |
The topics include ''how to be sure of ejaculation'', ''what
are the probable hazards of masturbation'', ''how to cope
with pimples'', ''what is the standard length of a penis'',
''is shaving pubic hair a problem'', councilors say.
|
| |
|
| |
Today, Turks are easier about talking about sex than earlier.
A survey done by Prof Ozcan Koknel of Istanbul University
revealed 43.5 percent of students of both genders said they
were able to discuss sexual issues with their family in an
''indirect'' way. Another 19 percent said they were free to
discuss it openly, although for the remaining it was still
taboo.
|
| |
|
| |
''I applaud the drive for sexual training,'' says author Ozdemir
Ince from Istanbul. ''Puberty is such a critical period during
which we gain or lose our children.''
|
| |
|
| |
''I am assured that as the project unfolds both the family
and the school too will be re-educated,'' he concludes.
|
| |
|
| |
''Sexual education is a must,'' says a prominent woman Islamist,
Sibel Eraslan of the Virtue Party (FP). ''Sexuality is a part
of both Islam and of humanity.''
|
| |
|
| |
Eraslan however cautions against likely media mischief. ''What
I am against is not the courses but their coverage by the
media in an unpleasant way. The media's presentation of the
children's questions and worries in a somewhat pornographic
manner might lead to unnecessary annoyance from the families.''
|
| |
|
| |
''Instead, the matter should be left to pedagogues and the
teachers, who are the ones to arrive at further conclusions,''
she concludes.
|
| |
|
| |
This article
is free of copyright restrictions and can be reproduced provided
that Inter Press Service is credited. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
