The Impact of Availability/ Adequacy and Utilization of Resources for Effective Teaching of Physical Education in Secondary Schools
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to ascertain the availability, adequacy and utilization of physical education teaching resources in public secondary schools in Enugu State. Specifically the study determined to find out the available physical education teaching resources – facilities, equipment and supplies in secondary schools in Enugu State, the adequacy of the available resources and the utilization of such resources. The descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population for the study comprised 275 secondary schools and 470 physical education teachers in public secondary schools in the State. The proportionate random sampling technique was adopted in the study and a sample size of 35 secondary schools and 103 physical education teachers were drawn for the study. Two instruments were developed and used for the study. The Availability and Adequacy of Physical Education Resources Check list (AAPERC) and the Utilization of Physical Education Resources Questionnaire (UPERQ). The instruments were validated by experts in the Department of Health and Physical Education University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Cronbach Alpha statistics was used to test the reliability of the instruments. The reliability coefficient of the three instruments are .80, .50, and .60 respectively. A 100% return rate was recorded after the administration of the questionnaire. The data were computed using SPSS. Chi-square and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. (ANOVA). The findings of the study indicated that of all the physical education teaching facilities only soccer fields are available in all the schools. However more than half of the schools have volleyball courts, basket ball courts and athletic tracks and fields. On physical education equipment and supplies only whistles are available in all the schools studied; other items that are available in most of the schools include soccer balls, hand balls, volley balls, and basket balls. Most of the schools also have relay batons, javelin and shot put. The result of the study indicates that of all the physical education facilities, equipment and supplies, only soccer field are adequate in the schools. Physical education equipment and supplies that are adequately utilized in the schools are soccer balls, volley balls, relay batons, javelin, shot put, measuring tape and first aid box with the materials. Of all the factors investigated only inadequate time allotment was found to be affecting the utilization of physical education teaching resources in the schools. Based on the results, it was recommended that workshops be organized for principals of secondary schools and physical education teachers on the need to construct physical education facilities in the schools and procure the equipment and supplies. Adequate time should also be allotted to physical education instructional programme in the school time table.
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Over the years, the availability of adequate facilities, equipment and supplies as well as their utilization are important ingredients in any physical education and sports programme. In recent times it has been observed that physical education and sports seems to be losing steam in almost all the secondary schools in Enugu State. This is being considered as part of the reason why the state has not been discovering new athletes and performing well in national sports festivals. This situation may likely persist if there are not adequate resources, especially instructional materials or if those available are not adequately utilized. The level of success of most physical education and sports programmes is greatly dependent on the degree of availability, adequacy and utilization of up-todate facilities, equipment and supplies. This is because they form the hub around which such programmes revolve (Akinsanmi, 1995; Mgbor, 2005; Mgbor and Anyanjor, 2005).
The Impact of Availability/ Adequacy and Utilization of Resources for Effective Teaching of Physical Education in Secondary Schools
Availability refers to services/resources that can be obtained in the discharge of certain functions. Longman (2003) asserts that availability refers to resources ready to be used, able to be used or that can easily be found and used. Onyejiemezie (2002) noted that availability is a state of making provision for a satisfactory standard requirement in terms of teaching resource to enhance effective instructional activity in a particular subject.
According to the author no meaningful learning or transfer of what has been learned will take place if such learning occurs in a situation devoid of relevant activities and concrete experiences. In other words, availability can be defined as human and material resources ready for use in teaching physical education. In recognition of the importance of availability of resources in teaching Olaitan, Igbo, Ekong, Nwachukwu and Onyemaechi (1999) noted that no meaningful learning or transfer of what has been learned will take place if such learning occurs in a situation devoid of relevant materials and activities as well as concrete experiences. The importance of availability of resources cannot be over-emphasized in teaching of physical education in schools. The availability of resources instructional facilities, equipment and supplies as well as adequate personnel motivates the learners, increases the teacher’s efficiency and promotes the productivity of the teacher. Facilities, supplies and equipment provision are important aspect of physical education and sports programme management.
Standard facilities and equipment are essential prerequisites to good and impressive performance. Lack of adequate and standard facilities and equipment hampers physical education programme in many ways. According to Awosika (2009), it might be impossible to achieve satisfactory results from athletes whose training facilities and equipment are inadequate or of sub-standard. The scarcity of physical education facilities, supplies and equipment could therefore constitute a big cog in the successful teaching of physical education in schools.
Availability as will be used in this study therefore means human and materials resources ready for use in teaching physical education in the schools. Adequacy of an object means a condition of being enough in quantity and good enough in quality for a particular purpose or need. Ojoawo (1990) opined that adequate facilities and equipment constitute a strategic factor in organizational functioning. This is because they determine to a very large extent, the smooth functioning of any educational programme. He further stated that their availability and adequacy influence efficiency and high productivity in teaching. According to Adedeji (2000) there must be sufficient motivation in form of attractive facilities, supplies and equipment for the school physical education programme in a secondary school. Where these resources are lacking, the effective functioning of the school physical education programme will be hindered.
Longman (2000) explained adequacy as a situation in which there is enough resources for a particular purpose. Mapaderum (2002) opined that adequacy is a satisfactory condition of resources in an organization. He added that adequacy of facilities, equipment and supplies in schools promote effective teaching and learning activities in the school while their inadequacy affects the academic performance negatively.
Hornby (2006) asserts that adequacy is a condition in which something is enough or good enough in quantity for a particular purpose or need. Adequate availability of equipment and facilities and their proper utilization have been positively correlated to good performance in examinations while poor performance has been blamed on inadequacies, (Maduewesi, 2010). Adding that where equipment and facilities are lacking, teaching may be poorly executed. Adequacy as will be used in this study therefore means satisfactory or acceptable quantity of resources as required for success in teaching of physical education in secondary schools. Different policy making bodies in secondary school education in Nigeria recommend adequate physical education, Sports, and recreational facilities and equipment as one prerequisite for establishment and operation of a secondary school in the country. According to Tsiga, (2005) schools shall provide adequate physical education, sports and games facilities, and equipment as well as other recreation facilities as one of needed condition for operation.
The Impact of Availability/ Adequacy and Utilization of Resources for Effective Teaching of Physical Education in Secondary Schools
According to the minimum standard for the establishment and operation of secondary schools in Enugu State (2005) secondary schools should also have land space of between 1 to 5 hectares for games and sports field. The guideline suggests one football field as well as one each on other games in each school. ( See Appendix B.) Adequacy of these school physical education facilities, equipment and supplies in the schools should as a matter of importance meet the demand of the minimum standard for establishment of secondary schools. Schools should spare no effort to set up well structured physical education programme. Nigeria secondary schools are now looked upon as one of the fertile grounds for breeding the Nation’s future Sportsmen and women. For this objective to be achieved standard and adequate facilities, equipment and supplies should be provided in the schools. The National Teachers Institute (2003) made a more elaborate recommendation of Physical Education facilities, equipment and supplies needed for teaching of Physical Education in schools.
The National Teachers Institute (2003) recommendation will be used in this study owing to its comprehensive nature in terms of number of facilities, equipment and supplies for physical education. It is also in agreement with the federal capital territory, Abuja (2005) and Enugu State (2005) recommendations.( See Appendix A, B1 and B2.) Hornby (2004) explained utilization as to make use of available services at the individual’s disposal.
These resources include the facilities, equipment and experienced personnel. Olagunju and Abiona (2008) opined that the process of managing and organizing resources is resource utilization. They added that in a school, the available resources should be utilized in such a way that it enables the students to acquire desirable learning competencies. Utilization of resources in teaching brings about fruitful learning since it stimulates student’s senses and motivates them.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The importance of facilities and equipment to the success of any given physical education and sports programme, it would be expected that secondary schools administrators would ensure the provision, availability, adequacy and utilization of up-to-date physical education facilities, equipment and supplies one of paramount interest in public secondary schools. The prevailing problem in Nigerian secondary schools is that resources for teaching physical education may be declining steadily without the school administrators giving attention to it.
This unfortunate development has become a source of worry to many stakeholders in the teaching of physical education in schools. The average physical education teacher is faced with a lot of challenges in teaching not only because of the increased number of students but also as a result of the scanty and often poorly maintained physical education facilities, equipment and supplies in the schools. The downward trend in sports and physical education facilities and equipment in schools have continued unabated since the early 90s. Since then many governments, local, state and federal pay lip service to its resuscitation (Mgbor 2002; Abu 2012).
The situation of scanty and inadequate physical education and sports facilities and equipment in schools have persisted over the years in spite of the fact that many Nigerians, especially former Nigeria Internationals have identified the return to school sports as the foundation to build the rebirth of sports development in Nigeria. 10 Observation by the researcher indicates that in schools where there are no physical education teachers or there is inadequate numbers of physical education teachers, non-physical education teachers in Physical Education or teachers that studied other subjects teach physical education. Such arrangement may affect the utilization of the available physical education facilities, equipment and supplies in the schools.
Observation by the researcher indicates that many physical education teachers in schools in Enugu State also find it difficult to demonstrate certain skills in different games and sports such as soccer, hockey, handball among others owing to non-availability of necessary facilities and equipment. Secondary schools require a variety of sports and physical education facilities, equipment and supplies to meet the teachers and students needs. Besides, the non-availability, inadequacy and non-utilization of facilities, equipment and supplies for teaching the subject may be a factor in the inability of the few teachers in the schools to sustain students interest, leading to poor performance in the subject. Also very few and in most cases no student offers the subject in Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in secondary schools in Enugu State. Based on the fore mentioned problems the study intends to determine the availability, adequacy and utilization of resources in public secondary schools in Enugu State.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to ascertain the availability, adequacy and utilization of physical education teaching resources in public secondary schools in Enugu State. Specifically the study seeks to determine;
- the availability of physical education facilities in public secondary schools in Enugu State;
- the availability of physical education equipment and supplies in public secondary schools in Enugu State;
- the adequacy of physical education facilities in public secondary schools in Enugu State;
- the adequacy of physical education equipment and supplies in public secondary schools in Enugu State;
- the extent of utilization of the available physical education facilities in public secondary schools in Enugu State;
- the utilization of available physical education equipment and supplies in public secondary schools in Enugu State;
- Factors affecting availability of resources in teaching physical education and sports in secondary schools in Enugu State;
- Factors affecting utilization of resources in teaching physical education and sports in secondary schools in Enugu State.