IMPACT OF RECESS PRACTICES ON THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PUPILS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDUCATION AUTHORITY

Abstract

Recess has long been recognized as an important period within the school day that provides pupils with opportunities to engage in physical activities that support their physical development This study investigated the impact of recess practices on the physical development of pupils in Awka South Local Government Education Authority. The study was guided by four research questions and four hypotheses tested at 0.05 level significance. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised of 4223 teachers in the 264 schools from both public and private schools (665 teachers in the 45 public schools and 3560 teachers in the 219 private schools) in the study area. The sample size for this study was 422. The study adopted a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The sample size for public school teachers was 67 and 355 teachers for private schools. The research instrument for the study was a 32-item questionnaire developed by the researchers and titled Impact of Recess Practices on the Physical Development of Pupils Questionnaire (IRPPDPQ). A four-point Likert scale, ranging from Strongly Agree (4 points), Agree (3 points), Disagree (2 points) and Strongly Disagree (1 point) were used. Two experts from the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education and one expert from the Department of Educational Foundations (Measurement and Evaluation Unit), all from the Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka validated the instrument. The Cronbach alpha method was used to establish the reliability of the instrument. The alpha coefficients gotten were 0.85, 0.79, 0.80 and 0.81 with an overall reliability of 0.81. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that both public and private school teachers agreed that running and chasing games and ball games among others are commonly implemented for physical development of pupils among others. Findings also showed that there is a significant difference in the mean responses of teachers in private and public schools on the impact of pupils' participation in physical activities during recess on their physical development among others. It was recommended among others that Teachers should encourage and actively supervise pupils' participation in physical activities during recess.