A comparative examination of physical education and sports teacher training programs: THE case of Turkey – Czechia

The purpose of this study is to reveal the similarities and differences in Physical Education and Sports Teacher training programs in Turkey and Czechia, through two universities. In this context, the curriculum of the Physical Education and Sports Teaching departments of Palacky University in Czechia and Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University in Turkey were evaluated. The courses in the curriculum were examined and analyzed on the basis of similarities and differences. In order to reach the data of the research, the existing documents in the programs of the study in Turkey and Czechia were examined. In the descriptive research carried out within this framework, the comparative method was used. While it is observed that anatomy, communication, English, law, psychology, basics of sports, physical education and sports history, first aid, nutrition, research methods from the theoretical courses are common; It has been observed that gymnastics, team sports, athletics, rhythm training, swimming, martial arts, educational games, teaching practice from applied courses are common. While the requirement to graduate from the Physical Education and Sports Teaching program in Turkey is at least 240 ECTS, it is 180 ECTS in Czechia. When we look at the number of elective courses in both curricula, it is seen that the number of elective courses in Turkey is higher than the number of elective courses in Czechia, but when we look at the ratio of all the courses that a candidate physical education and sports teacher should take during his education. It has been determined that this rate is 39.77% in Czechia and 31.34% in Turkey. The ratio of compulsory courses within the curriculum is 68.66% in Turkey; In Czechia, it was determined as 60.23%. On the other hand, while 75.44% of the courses in the Physical Education and Sports Teacher curriculum in Turkey consist of theoretical training course hours, this rate was found to be 51.23% in Czechia. From this point of view, it can be said that the theoretical and practical course hours are very close to each other in Czechia, but the majority of the theoretical course hours in Turkey. As a result, it can be said that some of the optional and compulsory courses in the physical education and sports teaching programs of both countries are similar in terms of content, achievement and the purpose of the course.