Issues and Challenges in Physical and Health Education – JSS2 Physical & Health Education Lesson Note (Third Term)

Issues and challenges in physical and health education are the problems that affect training, performance and the well-being of athletes and learners. They include poor equipment and facilities, drug abuse, delayed salaries, violence, racism, low academic qualifications of athletes, inadequate preparation, unqualified teachers and coaches, child neglect and poor funding.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the issues and challenges in physical and health education;
• explain drug abuse, violence (hooliganism) and child neglect;
• describe how poor equipment, delayed salaries and inadequate preparation affect athletes;
• explain how unqualified teachers and coaches create problems for learners.

What are the issues and challenges in physical and health education?

1. Poor equipment and facilities

If the required implements are not readily available, the training of athletes will not be carried out efficiently and effectively.

2. Drug abuse

Drug abuse is the use of substances by athletes to stimulate the body and mind to perform at optimal levels by increasing focus, energy and aggression. These substances can have adverse effects on the body system.

3. Delay in salaries and wages

When the authority concerned delays the salaries and wages of athletes, coaches or teachers, the athletes will not be motivated to perform at an optimal level.

4. Violence

Violence is unsociable behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage or fight. Violence in sports is also called hooliganism.

5. Racism

Racism in sport is a complex problem. It can include racism, discrimination, harassment or vilification by players directed at other players, or by spectators directed at players. It can also take the form of racist behaviour among rival spectator groups, which spills over into disruptions and violence in the stands.

6. Academic qualifications of athletes

Athletes with low academic qualifications, or who know little or nothing about the game, might record low performance in competitions.

7. Inadequate preparation

This is the case where athletes do not prepare properly for a competition, which could also result in poor performance.

8. Inexperienced or unqualified teachers and coaches

Some PHE teachers are not qualified and well-graded to handle physical and health education activities, which creates problems for the learners.

9. Child neglect

Child neglect is a pattern of failure to provide a child’s basic needs to the extent that the child’s health or well-being is damaged or endangered.

10. Poor funding

Poor funding is also a challenge in physical and health education.

Evaluation

1. List five issues and challenges in physical and health education.
2. What is drug abuse in sports?
3. What is another name for violence in sports?
4. How does a delay in salaries and wages affect athletes?
5. Define child neglect.

Assignment

1. Explain how unqualified teachers and coaches create problems for learners.
2. Describe how racism can show itself in sport.