Geographical Education in Primary School Curriculum in Turkey Between 1923-2018*

Abstract

This study aims to examine the change and transformation of geographical education in the Turkish primary school curriculum between 1923-2018. The research uses a qualitative document review method and a descriptive analysis process to analyse the data. Nine primary school programs created by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) are identified as research documents. Dates of primary school curricula in Turkey between 1923-2018 are analyzed: 1924, 1926, 1936, 1948, 1962, 1968, 1997, 2005 and 2018. The 1924 Boys' Primary School curriculum is a continuation of the pre-republic program and geographical education was included in Grades three, four and five under the name “Geography”. The 1926 Primary School curriculum, and the 1936 Primary School curriculum, and the 1948 Primary School curriculum all include the name “Geography”. The 1962 Primary School curriculum includes geographical education as “Society and Country Studies” and “Science and Nature” in Grades Four and Five. The lesson information in the 1968 Primary School curriculum and also in 1997, 2005 and 2018 show geographical education as “Social Studies”, “Science (1968 and 1997), “Science and Technology” (2005) and “Science” (2018) for Grades Four and Five. From the 1926 Primary School curriculum to the 2018 Primary School curriculum, it is evident that geographical education occurs in Grades One, Two, and Three and Geography was included under the name of “life knowledge, which is a combination of Geography, History, Civics, Nature, and Science. It was determined the course hours differed from program. Purpose/objectives related to geographical education have gradually decreased. Given the importance of geographical education from the primary school level, achievements related to geography education can be increased.