“Innovations” on hold: sex education in the Greek primary schools

Abstract

Purpose -This paper seeks to examine the way sex and relationships education programs, as part of Health Education extra curriculum activities, have been implemented in the Greek primary schools. Design/methodology/approach -The paper presents and discusses data from an anonymous survey research questionnaire distributed to the 68 Elementary sector Health Education Coordinators throughout Greece (received responses n ¼ 34). Findings -Findings indicate that there is an uneven distribution on teachers' choices when selecting a thematic unit for implementing Health Education projects. It has been found that Nutrition is by far the most popular topic for project development and implementation. In contrast, Sex and Relationships Education is by far the least popular, occupying only 1.6 per cent of the share of programs. Obstructive factors for Sex and Relationships Education implementation are related to the Greek educational system as well as pragmatic and moral reasons on the teachers' part.Research limitations/implications -A response rate of the survey of only 50 per cent is a limiting factor. Practical implications -On the basis of these data, teachers' awareness and training, as well as material development, are important for Sex and Relationships Education programs to become an active innovation. The role of the central administration is emphasized as well. Originality/value -The paper raises an awareness of the issue of an unsuccessful implementation of Sex and Relationships Education programs in Greece, in the light of a range of sexual health-related problems that affect the population.

The evolution of sex education and students' sexual knowledge in Finland in the 2000s

“…in Greece; cf. Gerouki 2009). Based on the information gathered by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) European Network (2006), sex education in many Catholic countries in Europe was either non-existent or was of a poor quality, even though some of these countries may have reported having mandatory sex education programmes.…”

‘Teacher, will you marry me?’ Integrating teachers' stories and self-reflective texts for exploring sexuality discourses in school settings

“…In general, teachers' personal disposition on the subject of sex education has been recognised as a core element for the potential application of any such programme (Bowden et al 2003;Gerouki 2009). On the other hand, educational research done critically takes under consideration 'how teachers and students come to understand their own school experiences, and how knowledge and school culture are implicated in the domination of the mind and the body' (Aronowitz and Giroux 1987, 148).…”

“…The overall aim of the research project was to understand why proper introduction and dissemination of the subject is inadequate within the Greek educational system, despite a range of emergent problems in the sexual health of the population and a number of recent changes on the educational policy level (Gerouki 2008(Gerouki , 2009. A further aim was to offer suggestions on overcoming such problems.…”

Health needs: policy plan and school practice in Greece

“…The SHEC as part of the ExSAC represents a schema of what is termed as “innovative school activities” in primary and secondary education. However the innovation movement in Greek public schooling appears to encounter numerous problems and challenges analysed and interpreted in several publications (Chrysostomou, 2004; Gerouki, 2009; Karavas‐Doukas, 1995; Soultatou and Duncan, 2009).…”