Experiences of teachers and learners in the teaching and learning of physical education in selected schools in Monze district, Zambia

Abstract

This study was aimed at exploring and understanding the lived experiences of the teachers and learners of physical education in the learning and teaching. In order to understand the experiences, the study made use of a qualitative inquiry grounded on interpretive phenomenological design. Purposive Sampling technique was used to come up with the desired of a total sample size of 32 of which 16 were teachers and another 16 were learners drawn from four selected secondary schools in Monze District. Data collection was done with the help of an in-depth interview and focus group discussion guides. The data was analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis in order to transcribe the bulk data into themes and sub themes. The findings were categorized in line with the objectives of the study which were to: establish experiences of teachers and learners in the teaching and learning of physical education, identify the benefits of teaching and learning of physical education in four selected school in and ascertain challenges faced in the teaching and learning of physical education in four selected secondary schools in Monze District. The study‟s findings revealed that the teaching and learning of physical education was experienced in tow fold, namely theory and practice conducted from the classroom and outside the class. Further, the findings found that the benefits using in – depth interviews show that the subject maintains fitness, enhances skills in the various games, ensures promotion for teachers and improve their curriculum vitae. The findings further show that it encourages excursions. On the challenges faced in the teaching and learning of physical education, the study reported lack of instructional materials in terms of text books, lack of good playing fields and materials, lack of infrastructure and lack of professional enhancement at the university due to the subject being graded under primary qualification. The findings further showed lack of materials in form of text books. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the materials to use at the grounds such as lime are improvised and also the nets for the goal posts are improvised. It was further established that there was lower number of theory and practical lessons allocated on the schools timeTable. Arising from the findings also show that the girl child is stigmatized by parents for participation in the games at home that they would not bear children in future. These findings showed that if the problem is not checked it is likely to affect the 50 – 50 participation in terms of learning and equal pass rate during the examinations if not addressed. It is against this background that in order to improve the situation a number of recommendations have been put forward for consideration by the Ministry of Education (MoGE) and individual school managers for use of initiative to ameliorate the situation. Key words: physical education, teaching, learning and experience.