Examination of physical education as an academic subject in selected primary schools of Kitwe district,Zambia
Date
2017
Authors
Sitwala, Susan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This study sought to establish the views of teachers, pupils and parents towards Physical
Education (P.E) as an academic subject in selected primary schools in Kitwe District in
Zambia. The objectives of the study were to: establish whether or not teachers, pupils and
parents knew the importance of P.E. as a learning subject at primary school level; determine
how the time scheduled for P.E. on the school time-table in the current education system was
actually used at primary school level; and establish the views of the various stakeholders on
P.E. as an examinable subject in C.T.S. in primary schools.
The study sample comprised 21 teachers, 31 pupils, and 31 parents from the two selected
primary schools. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and semistructured
interviews. The data for the study was analysed using both the qualitative and
quantitative methods of data analysis and was based on the objectives and questions which
guided the study.
The study revealed that P.E. is taught in primary schools and that learners have interest in
learning the subject however it was also found that schools lacked specialised teachers to
teach the subject. The study further revealed that all the teachers, pupils and parents who
participated in the study were of the view that P.E. as a subject was of great value to the
learners.
In terms of whether P.E. should be taught as an independent subject, it was found that most of
the teachers, pupils and parents felt that it should be taught as a stand-alone subject, and not
integrated in Creative and Technology Studies (CTS).
As regards to how the time scheduled for P.E. on the school time-table was being utilised, the
findings revealed that over half of the teachers said that it was mostly used for practical
lessons only while some of them said it was used for theory lessons only. Nonetheless, it was
found that only a smaller proportion of the teachers managed to use the time for both theory
and practical lessons. It was sad to note that a few pupils reported that some teachers used the
time allocated to P.E. to teach other subjects.
With regard to whether P.E. should be examined as a part in CTS, the study revealed the
majority of the teachers, pupils and parents felt that it should be examined independently. It
was argued that once the subject is examined independently, teachers would take the subject
seriously and accord it the status it deserves, like is the case with English and Mathematics.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Physical education for pupils--Study and teaching--Zambia , Physical education--Academic subject--Zambia