AN ASSESSMENT OF PERCIEVED EFFECT OF POPULATION EXPLOSION ON THE STUDENTS OF PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE TEACHING OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS (A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATI

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Since Western education became firmly rooted in Nigeria, it has faced myriads of problems. Most of these problems are hardly lost on the various governments, whether during colonial or post-independence era. It has resulted in the setting up of various commissions such as Ashby Commission of 1960 and the Curriculum Conference of 1969 to examine Nigeria’s educational problems and make recommendations. These problems pertained to the quantity and quality of teachers, educational facilities, curriculum planning and development (Adesina, 1990).

Most governments today accept in principle that the provision of education is a basic human right as embodied in article 26 of the Declaration of Human Rights (Osim, Chike and Isaac, 2012). Through education, peace, good international relations, better prospects for economic developments and improvement of human resources are possible (Omohan and Maliki, 2007). Despite this awareness, most governments cannot fulfill this requirement of education due to large population sizes, rapid growth and competition for scarce financial resources. In recent times, there has been increase in the population of our schools especially in terms of students enrolment in Edo State. Some schools have as many as 60, 70 or above students per class as against the teacher student ratio of 1:40 recommended by the National Policy on Education (FGN 2004). This has undoubtedly affected teaching and learning negatively as well as students academic performance. This is evidence in the failure rates recorded by students in external examinations in virtually all subjects (Ajayi, 2000). The situation we have in some of our schools in Edo state is that teachers find it difficult moving round the classroom because of the large class size. In view of the divergent opinions expressed by different scholars on this issue, there is need to adopt a different perspective. The focus of the present study therefore is to find out from secondary school teachers how classroom population affects their ability to manage instruction or teach effectively.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM     

Over the years, there has been an increase in the population of students in colleges of education nationwide. This has been consistent, without the attendant increase in facilities, teachers and infrastructure, etcetera. With the decline in the quality of education and output, it therefore becomes imperative to find out whether the increase in population of students’ directly affect their academic performance and identify the causes of increase in population of students in colleges of education in Zaria  educational zone and what could be done to remedy the situation.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 

The major aim of the study is to assess the perceived effect of population explosion on the students of physical and health education in the teaching of physical and health education and sports. Other objectives of the study include;

1. To examine the major causes of population explosion in colleges of education.
2. To examine the effect of population explosion on teaching n and learning of physical education and sports in colleges of education.
3. To examine the relationship between population explosion and students’ academic performance of physical education and sports.
4. To recommend ways of improving the management population explosion in Nigeria colleges of education.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the major causes of population explosion in colleges of education?
2. What is the effect of population explosion on teaching n and learning of physical education and sports in colleges of education?
3. What is the relationship between population explosion and students’ academic performance of physical education and sports?
4. What are the ways of improving the management population explosion in Nigeria colleges of education?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H0: There is no effect of population explosion on the learning and teaching of physical education and sports in colleges of education

H1: There is a significant effect of population explosion on the learning and teaching of physical education and sports in colleges of education

H0: There is no significant relationship between population explosion on the learning and teaching of physical education and sports in colleges of education

H1: There is a significant relationship between population explosion on the learning and teaching of physical education and sports in colleges of education

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This project work is of great importance in the sense that, it will reveal the extent at which population explosion has affected student’s academic performance. Also it reveals other factors affecting student’s performance as a result of population explosion. Furthermore, this study will help the school authority and teacher to design some measures to curb the effect population explosion has on the academic performance of students. And to the educationist, education curriculum as school structures will be carefully observed to help students learning. Moreso, serving as a project that would be discovered that population explosion affect the academic performance of pupils.

 Lastly, it will provide the relevant knowledge and serves as a research tool for those who need such materials.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to the perceived effect of population explosion on the students of physical and health education in the teaching of physical education and sports in college of education Zaria, Kaduna state.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Population explosion: Can be defined as an increase in the number of people living in one geographical area and a place is said to be overpopulated when the resources available cannot cater for the amount of individual resident in a particular area.

Academic: Connected with education especially studying in schools and universities.

Performance: An action or achievement, considered in relation to how successful it is. The ability to operate capable of high effectiveness.

Classroom: A building or structure constructed for the purpose of organizing students for learning. It is referred to as the heart of any educational system.