Physical Health Education Awareness Level Among Junior Secondary School Students In Enugu Urban Enugu State

PHYSICAL HEALTH EDUCATION AWARENESS LEVEL AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ENUGU URBAN ENUGU STATE

ABSTRACT

This study investigated physical and health education awareness level among junior secondary school students in Enugu Urban, Enugu state. Three research questions were raised and answered.

The study adopted a descriptive survey research. The population for the study comprised of all senior secondary school teachers and students in Enugu Urban Enugu State. While the sample for this study comprised hundred (100) respondents selected using simple random sampling techniques. Physical and health education  student questionnaire was used to obtain data from students. Data collected was analyzed using frequency counts, mean, standard deviation and t-test of significance.

Results showed that there is low level of awareness of physical and health education among junior secondary students. Also, the study found no significant difference between male and female students physical and health education awareness.

The study recommended that government should provide schools with adequate physical and health educations for use in schools. This will make increase students awareness and use of physical and health educations for educational purposes. Parents also should enroll their children for physical and health education training to enable them acquire the needed physical and health education skills for this 21^st century workforce.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1   Introduction 

1.2 Background of the Study

Physical and Health Education is a systematic instruction in sports, training, practice, gymnastics, exercises, and hygiene given as part of a school or college program. Physical and Health Education is the study, practice, and appreciation of the art and science of human movement (Hardman, 2002b). Physical and Health Education is course in the curricula that utilizes the learning in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains in a play or movement exploration setting (Kirui, 2007). In this study, it refers to an instructional program built around basic motor activities, which help achieve the goal of physical, emotional and mental wellbeing for every pupil, student and student-teachers. It includes education in health, hygiene, first aid, personal safety, and the teaching of manipulative skills. It is an integral part of the schooling process. In schools Physical and Health Education is usually referred to by the abbreviation P.H.E.

There is no doubt that Physical and Health Education course carries a primary significance among the entire student body with all their differences, status and experience. Tal, et al (1993) and Kurdi (1986) cited by Abedalbasit, (2013) points out that revealing the importance magnitude of Physical and Health Education is the school’s responsibility. This can be achieved through providing sufficient opportunities to sports practicing, achieving physical fitness, adopt health information and habits, and safe attitudes in order to enable a Physical and Health Education program that helps in stabilizing their emotions and assure themselves through several activities..

Based on previous review of literature, it is very understandable that there is a lack of research in Nigeria regarding Physical and Health Education as an important subject in public schools for junior classes , that is why it is pertinent for this study to examine the level of physical and health education awareness among the junior secondary school students especially in public schools and make recommendations where necessary to improve physical and health education awareness across junior secondary schools.

1.3 Statement of Problem

It is believed that the teaching of practical skills in physical and health education in secondary schools will help student with the necessary knowledge that will be useful to them. Physical and health educations have become a part of day to day life and it has become inevitable to escape contact from physical and health educations. The impact of physical and health educations on the society is so huge that they have changed the face of everything from educational system to entertainment. We have reached a stage where a person without some basic physical and health education knowledge is considered an illiterate therefore, the level of student‟s awareness of physical and health education and it uses is a problem that calls for the study.

1.4 Research Questions

• What is the level of physical and health education awareness among junior secondary students?
• Is there any significant between male and female students on physical and health education awareness?
• What are the factors limiting effective teaching of physical and health education in the study area ?

1.5 Objectives of Study

The central aim of this study is to determine the physical and health education awareness level among junior secondary school students in Enugu Urban, Enugu State. Specifically, the objectives of this study are as follows;

• To examine students level of awareness of physical and health education in junior secondary school
• To find out the level of awareness of physical and health educations by secondary school students in relation to their gender.
• To identify the factors limiting effective teaching of physical and health education in the study area

1.6 Significance of the study

It is expected that this study would find out the general awareness of junior secondary school students on the physical and health education study. The findings of the study could be used as contribution as suggestion on the uses and awareness of physical and health education in educational system, which might be of interest to teachers, students, and even ministry of education. It has hoped, that the findings of the study would provide a knowledge based reflection on physical and health education awareness among students and bring to light to the students use of physical and health education in schools. Physical and health education goes along with practical work. This study will have a great significant to physical and health education teachers for formulation and evaluation of their teaching plans. This research will serve as a source of encouragement to students and teachers that will come across it. It is hoped that the findings of this study would also form the basis for further research work by future researchers on this issues.

1.7 Scope of Study

The study will be limited to some selected  junior secondary school in Enugu Urban, Enugu State.

1.8 Definition of Terms

• Physical and health education Awareness: is the ability to understand physical and health educations

• Junior Secondary school: A school intermediate between an elementary school and a high school, generally for children in the seventh, eight, and ninth grades
• Student: a person formally engaged in learning, especially one enrolled in as school or college; pupil.