INSTRUCTIONAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POOR PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN ENUGU NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

INSTRUCTIONAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POOR PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN ENUGU NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Abstract

This study investigated instructional problems associated with the poor performance in secondary schools by Physical Education students in enugu north local government area. Two sets of questionnaire were raised to guide the study, while two hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study assessed the variables responsible for students‟ poor performance in Physical Education examinations.. The primary data for the study were collected through the use of questionnaire, while the secondary data for literature review were collected from available literature on the topic.. The data were presented using table tabular statistical system, and analysis of the research  questions was done using simple  2.50 mean criterion for acceptance of items. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) was used to test hypotheses 1, 2, and 3, while the t-test statistical analysis was used to test hypothesis 4. The findings of the research revealed that inadequate qualified Physical Education teaching staff, inadequate laboratory facilities, and the use of ineffective teaching techniques by physical education lecturers were the major causes of students‟ poor academic performance in physical education examinations. In view of this, the research recommended that government and college managements should equip Physical Education laboratories with adequate functional facilities, qualified physical education lecturers should be employed while the unqualified ones should be encouraged to go for further study and attend conferences and workshops to update their knowledge on Physical Education

KEYWORD:INSTRUCTIONAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POOR PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN ENUGU NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTERONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Teaching is communication. In a good communication, there are three important aspects. These include the person giving the information, the message that is to be passed and the receivers.

According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia, instructional refers to the practice of maximizing the effectiveness, efficiency and appeal of teaching and learning experiences. The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner defining the end goal of instruction and creating some “intervention” to assist in the transition of knowledge. Instruction may be aimed at teaching learners problems solving skills, thinking and reasoning skills including perception memory, language etc. many would agree that people learn better when they can build on what they already understand known as “schemes” but the more a person has to learn in a shorter amount it is to process that information in working memory.

Dick and Carcy (2004), presented an instructional model which addressed instruction as an entire system, focusing on the inter-relationship between contest, content, learning and instruction. According to Han, the component such as the instructor, learners, materials, instructional activities, delivery system, learning and performance environments interacts with each other and work together to bring about the desired student learning outcomes.

Horaby (2001), defined problem as anything that is difficult to deal with or to understand, therefore the problem associated with the use of instructional materials in teaching and learning processes could be centered on its misuse with the set objectives. It could be regarded as obstacles against the smooth process of communication with the learners. According to Ashby (2001), performance refers to how well or badly somebody do something; meanwhile instructional problem affects the academic performance of the students. If the processes used in communicating with the students is not smooth or the instructional material is misuse with the set objective, then the students will perform negatively. Instructional problems therefore are those obstacles that pose difficulty in dealing with in the process of communicating skills, attitudes and values to the learner.

These obstacles which among others include:

Methodologies: According to Abdullahi (2009), methodologies employ in any teaching matters in that it acts as a driver that drives the instructions to the learner.

Meanwhile if wrong methodology is employ to a particular instruction while teaching it present confusion to the learner.

Wrong usage of the Instructional Materials with the set Objective: The set objective is a point of focus of the teacher while teaching. Akinsoba (2009) added that the usage of instructional material should be done in accordance with the set objective otherwise it leads the learners far from what they ought to understand on a particular topic.

Improvisation of Instructional Materials: According to Dahar, M.A., Faize, F.A., Nywaz, A. and Dahar, R.T., (2010), improvisation is making something or someone using whatever is available usually because you do not have what you really need. It presents obstacle to communicating skills, attitudes and values improvisation does not suit the topic because improvisation are made when there is no instructional materials. Okeke (2009) stressed on the need to provide adequate instructions for the teaching and learning of physical education.

Lack of Instructional Materials: Some of the topics being treated or thought in Physical Education do not lend themselves to usage of instructional materials. Onuigbo (2003) outline some of the topics in Physical Education that do not lend themselves to instructional materials, these include word stress, sentence stress, intonation and the second system of English. Nelson-Jones, R. (1996) published an influential taxonomy of what he termed the three domains of learning; cognitive (what one knows or think), psychomotor (what one does physically) and affective (what one feels or the attitude one has). These taxonomies as stated by him are what instructional material touches, so any topic that does not have instructional materials cannot reflect to the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domain of the learners. Sweller (2006), measured the effects of working memory load, and found that lack of instructional materials has a direct effect on the performance of the learners.

Language of Instruction: The language used while teaching with instructional materials matters. Langdon (1998) added that the outcomes of this instruction may be directly observable and scientifically misused or completed and assumed when it is used with wrong language. Languages of instruction have far reading implications on the performance of the students in various areas. One of the areas is in School Certificate Physical Education. Poor performances have been recorded in School Certificate Physical Education in recent times. According to Richard (1999) the poor performance of students could be attribute to misuse of instructions, wrong application of methodologies to reflect to cognitive, psychomotor and Affective domains of the learners. It will not be out of place for one to blame these poor performances on the instructional process. Poor performance in school certificate physical education is an unacceptable development in the students’ carrier.

In this study, instructional problems associated with the poor performance of student in school certificate physical education will be determine, with particular reference to those in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State

Statement of problem

The importance of Physical Education for the nation’s economic development cannot be overemphasized. In the same vein: the present poor performance of students in Physical Education as reflected in the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination (JSSCE) report by the Chief Examiner on students performance cited in Enugu north Zone from 2001 to 2003 sessions is of utmost concern. According

to Okonlcwo (1995). inadequate qualified Physical Education teachers results to poor

performance of students in Physical Education . ‘This poor academic achievement in

Physical Education programme in Nigeria is unsatisfactory. This state of affairs is very disturbing.

Many factors. include  strategies adopted by Nigeria Physical Education teachers .According to Ekunno (1994), poor teaching methods used in Physical Education gives rise to inadequacy of . Students performance in Physical Education cannot be improved unless teachers adopt suitable methods and approaches of teaching Physical Education .

Purpose of the Study

Specifically, the study sought to:

1. find out the extend the available Physical Education teachers influence students‟ academic performance   in Physical Education  in secondary schools  in Enugu north.
2. find out the extend the teaching methods used by teachers influence students‟ academic        performance in Physical Education in of enugu north.

3. Find out the extend that the  teachers‟ use of the available instructional facilities  influence students‟academic performance in Physical Education in  Enugu north.

4. Establish the  difference  that  exists between Secondary schools Enugu north      on the influence of teachers‟ use of available instructional  facilities and instructional methods      on students‟ academic performance in Physical Education .

1.5 Significance of the Study

The findings would be significant to student teachers, parents, school administrators, ministry of education as well as the at large. The result of this research would help the students in advancement of their knowledge as well as increase their awareness and understanding of the subject. The result would also help teachers to understand the effects of certain processes and at the same time increase their understanding at the appropriate skills, method and specific teaching behavior. Similarly, the result of this research would help in increasing and understanding the awareness of parents as to the importance of Physical Education in the overall development of the economy of the nation in general, as well as know the remedies to their children’s failure in Physical Education examination. The outcome of this research would also make the school administrators, ministry of education and the government to bring about better and improved practice in Physical Education remedy the problems of teaching and learning Physical Education in secondary schools. However, this study would serve as insight to general public particularly for further study by researchers in this field.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This study instructional problems associated with the poor performance in secondary schools by Physical Education  students in Enugu North local Government Area

INSTRUCTIONAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POOR PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN ENUGU NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA