Thursday, July 4, 2013

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Please check the fineprint

Physical Education in our schools today

Physical Education (PE)

In my opinion, Physical Education (PE) is a subject which plays a vital role in molding an 'all-rounder' student.  Despite the fact that the development this subject holds and carries for students in their academic, and non-academic plus their daily living skills, it usually goes unnoticed by people from all walks of life.  Even after the education system clearly states the importance of this subject, many still unaware of this fact and take this subject for granted.  It is a shame to learn that even some teachers, senior assistants, school head of departments and parents, public and students in general does not feel the same way for this subject compared to the others.

A physically active students are getting lesser and lesser in almost all schools.  We often hear teachers and parents complains that their students / child are "....no longer active and putting on weight, getting obese, growing wider, lazy, sleeps a lot and etc".  According to the statistic by one of the daily papers, the number of obese students in Malaysia are escalating to worrying point. This worrying problem among the school going children, looks like never going to stop unless something real solid and concrete actions are taken immediately, either by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth & Sports, school authorities or parents. Someone has to step in to get the ball rolling or roll the already laid out structure for PE lesson.

The Ministry of Education has introduced the 'Pentaksiran Aktiviti Jasmani, Sukan dan Kokurikulum (PAJSK)'. Hope this idea is well understood by all and carried out diligently in all schools.

Blueprints and research and plannings and advocating alone are not sufficient but some kind of enforcement has to go along with it to ensure the problems are met adequately right from the beginning of the grassroots level.  Perhaps a little bit of incentive might work better to boost this subject matter among the PE teachers. 

Where have we gone wrong?  The education system is good, under the new education blueprint, PE has been placed in the right position and it holds a lot of merits in the school system.  Nevertheless PE does not excel. Why?

Please don't get me wrong.... not, here not to blame or point our fingers to anyone but to share and solve the mysteries and problems to make the PE subject interesting for the students and to make them love the subject.

How do we do it?

The PE subject itself.
   -   Interesting
   -   Well arranged syllabus
   -   Well guided activities
   -   Well organized contents
   -   Flexible timetable
   -   PE attire can be worn throughout the day

So lets not complain about the subject matter.

School heads / Senior Assistants
   -   PE is more or only a time filler in the school timetable.
   -   Does not aware the importance of PE lesson.
   -   Does not recognize the importance and gives less attention to PE subject.
   -   Using PE time to run and enrich other exam based subject matter in school
   -   Does not recognize the efforts put in by PE teachers.
   -   Does not evaluate the PE teachers accordingly.
   -   Does not appreciate the effort of the PE teachers.
   -   Does not know how to evaluate PE teachers.

We have yet to make a survey on the above fact to find out the percentage.
By the way it happens.... though it may not apply to all the schools.
May be selected schools only.

Teachers?
   -   Qualified PE teachers.
   -   Unqualified PE teachers.
   -   Ad-hoc PE teachers.
   -   'Tangkap-muat' PE teachers - I dont know what the term used for this but I hope
        you understand.
   -   Teachers appointed to teach PE just to fulfill their number of teaching periods per week.
   -   Teachers who do not have or lacking interest in teaching PE
   -   Inadequate knowledge in subject matter.
   -   Inability to control the PE class / students.
   -   Inability to address the students problems (all students are different / and has different level of
       mastering physical movements).


Students?
   -   Lack of interest in PE.
   -   No proper place to change (this may not be applicable now because they don't have to
       change back to their school uniforms after their PE class).
   -   Peer group pressure - "ahhh no need to do PE  la, no exam", and many more ...
   -   Lazy.
   -   Under the impression that PE is not an important subject in school.
   -   No respect for PE teachers so the PE teachers mean nothing to them therefore they do not
        participate in in the activities .
   -   Majority of the students still thinks PE means just go out and play football, 'sepak takraw' and
        basketball (reluctant to learn) and avoid learning n playing other games.
   -   Are not interested to to do the fitness activities - (may be due to feeling inferior to their
        friends or did not want to sweat out). 

   The above comments were made based on general observation and may not apply to all students
    and school.




Parents?
   -   Not aware of the subject matter.
   -   Not aware how PE can help their children in their academic development.
   -   Not aware how PE can help their children in their physical and fitness development.
   -   May be they don't encourage enough their children to take part in PE activities.
   -   PE not an important subject.
   -   Parents support.  Students bring letter from the parents saying they are not well / not able to join
        the class ( there are genuine cases at times).


The list may go on... but I guess its enough for us to take a look at those items and discuss about it to improve standards of PE in school.

If any of the above mentioned happens in our school today...I believe we have something serious to settle.

We may need to,  
We need to address the problems immediately.
We have to sit down and discuss them. Who?
If we don't ... no one does it for us. Who will do it?


Just a point to think, ponder about and learn together...........