HPS Conference September 2006 Promoting physical activity among high school learners: facing the challenge Prof Jose Frantz (PhD) Ms T Pillay (MSc) University

HPS Conference September 2006

Promoting physical Promoting physical activity among high activity among high

school learners: facing school learners: facing the challengethe challenge

Promoting physical Promoting physical activity among high activity among high

school learners: facing school learners: facing the challengethe challenge

Prof Jose Frantz (PhD)Prof Jose Frantz (PhD)Ms T Pillay (MSc)Ms T Pillay (MSc)

University of the Western CapeUniversity of the Western Cape


Content of presentation• Background

– Health Promoting schools– Physical activity and physical education

intervention in schools– Highlighting the challenges

• Aim of the study• Methodology• Results• Conclusion


Background• A health promoting school is a place

where all members of the school community work, learn, live and play together to promote the health and well being of learners, staff, parents and the wider community

• The HPS concept provides the basis for the spreading of health ideas and practices from the school and the community


Health promoting schools

• Strategies include:– Strengthening the ability to advocate

improved school health programmes– Creating networks and alliances for the

development of health promoting schools– Strengthening national capacities– Research to improve school health

programmes


HPS Guidelines (WHO, 1996)

• School health policies• Physical environment of the schools• School’s social environment• Community relationships• Personal health skills• Health services


Principles for HPS (ENHPS, 1997)

• Democracy• Equity• Empowerment• School environment• Curriculum• Teacher training• Measuring success• Collaboration• Communities• Sustainability


Question????• Are health promoting schools able

to meet the challenges of the various stakeholders as it relates to physical activity interventions in schools and the re-introduction of physical education


Physical activity and physical education

interventions• Various countries have provided a number of

initiatives to provide quality physical education in schools

• In South Africa history reveals that there is a low institutional priority for physical education in schools

• This is attributed to :– Lack of qualified PE teachers– Lack of adequate facilities in most schools– Non-examination status of physical education


Challenges facing physical education in SA

schools• Health Promoting Schools Concept• First SA National Risk Behaviour

Survey• USSASA• Prevalence of CDL as it relates to

physical inactivity


THUS• In order to improve the current

situation, the conventional ideas of the school physical education programme needs to be reconsidered and more serious consideration should be given to the prefences and needs of the key stakeholders namely the learners and teachers


Aim of the Study• To determine the views of

teachers and learners with regards to the re-introduction of physical education and promotion of physical activity in schools in a local community school


Methods• Participants: high school learners and

teachers from a school in a local community in the Western Cape

• Data collection: Focus groups held separately with learners and teachers

• Data was analysed into themes looking at barriers as well as recommendations


Results• Barrier Themes

– Lack of time– Facilities– Resources: staff and equipment– Finances– Quality of programmes– Attitudes– Lack of foresight of Dept of Education


Lack of time• “School homework and housework

takes preference over sport” Female, 16.

• “ The library at school cannot help with projects and lots of time is spent going to other libraries and thus no time for sport” Male, 15


Attitude• “My mother shouts at me if I go

and play sport when I should rather help her at home with the housework” Female, 15

• It is safer to go home directly after school than hang around here at school, Female 15


• Recommendation Themes– Dedicated time in school curriculum– Qualified teachers– Co-operation between schools, community

and tertiary institutions– Change management– Facilities– Funding


Dedicated school time• “ If all physical activities took

place during school time more of us would be able to attend”

• “ PE periods should be longer and have more impact … perhaps more structured”


Change management• Learners• Teachers• Governing bodies


Change management: learners

• “ A vacuum exists for many years and it is difficult for learners to just accept that sport is a compulsory aspect of education”


Change management: teachers

• “ The rich schools can afford it, they can employ PE teachers. We don’t have the money or the resources.”


Change management: governing bodies of

schools• “ It is difficult to do sport if the

facilities are not there. Priorities from the governing body is still centered around the academic programme with little or not regard for sport. The academic need is just to great”


Conclusion• Currently in South Africa, the HPS

concept is well supported and a much needed movement

• As the health promoting schools concept is introduced to more schools the challenges highlighted in the current study needs to be addressed


Acknowledgements• VLIR• Canon Trust• Learners and Teachers from the

schools


Thank you

Documents

HPS Conference September 2006 Promoting physical activity among high school learners: facing the challenge Prof Jose Frantz (PhD) Ms T Pillay (MSc) University