Abstract: This study examined school variables and psychomotor skills development of pre–primary school pupils in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Survey research design was employed. Simple random sampling technique was used to select one hundred (100) pupils from the population of 824 in the study area. Physical Education Achievement Test (PEAT) was used as an instrument for data collection. The data collected from the respondents were subjected to statistical analysis using pearson product moment correlation (PPMC). The results revealed that availability of school facilities, qualified teachers and teachers’ use of play way method of teaching contributed to psychomotor skills development of pre-primary school pupils in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Based on the outcome of the statistical analysis, the null hypotheses were all rejected. It was then concluded that availability of instructional facilities, qualified teacher and teachers’ use of play way method of teaching contributed to pupils’ development of psychomotor skills in Ukanafun Local Government Area. It was then recommended among others that adequate and qualified teachers should be employed by government to teach at pre-primary school level in other to boost pupils’ development of psychomotor skills.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
In Nigeria and the world at large, education is seen as a pivot for human change and development. Hence, education is a tool for global revolutionary changes which has helped to improve all facets of human endeavours. For education to thrive, there are key variables that must be considered. These variables include class size, instructional facilities, location of school, play materials, teachers’ qualification and learners’ social interaction (Inyang, 2001). According to the author, these variables are so important that they can influence the skills development of learners in schools.
However, for many years now educationists and researchers have debated on which school variables influence the psychomotor skills development of pupils in schools. As policy makers become more involved in school reform, this question takes on new dimension since their initiatives rely on presumed relationship between various education related factors and learning outcome. Ajayi (2001) suggested that schools bring little influence to bear upon a child’s performance that is dependent on his background and general social context. The author noted that school variables such as availability of school facilities, qualified teachers, play materials and learners’ interaction remain important area that should be studied and well managed to enhance the development of skills among learners. According to Inyang (2001) school is an environment which constitutes all that surround the learners in the course of learning.
SCHOOL VARIABLES AND PSYCHOMOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS
The environment embraces such provision as good roads, electricity, well equipped laboratory, library facilities, well ventilated classroom and the use of relevant instructional materials among others. Consequently, the issue of poor motor skills development of pupils in Nigeria has been of much concern to the government, parents, teachers and even learners themselves. The quality of education does not only depend on the teachers as reflected in the performance of their duties, but also in the effective coordination of the school variables (Smith, 2007). Accordingly, there is no gain saying the fact that pupils’ interaction with the school environment as well as interaction with activities on different forms of mass media has the capacity to exert significant influence on the psychomotor skills development among pupils. Hence, for the psychomotor skills of pupils to be developed, school variables must be thoroughly considered. Therefore, this research work seeks to determine whether school facilities, availability of qualified teachers and teachers’ use of play way method of teaching influence the psychomotor skills development of pre-primary school pupils in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
For sometimes now, many patriotic citizens of our society have been viewing with serious concern about the psychomotor skills development of learners in schools. Worried by the poor development of motor skills among pupils, a lot of researchers have been conducted and several factors have been implicated. These include, class size, teaching method, location of school and poor reading culture of the learners (Azikiwe, 2008). However, available data has shown that little or no research has been conducted along the line of school variables in relation to psychomotor skills development of pre-primary school pupils. It is on the expectation that school variables like school facilities, availability of qualified teachers and pupils’ social interaction could exert influence on psychomotor skills development of pupils in schools. It is as a result of the above reasons that the researcher inspired to undertake a study on school variables and psychomotor skills development of pre-primary school pupils in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to examine the influence of school variables on psychomotor skills development of pre-primary school pupils in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Specifically, the study sought to:
- Examine if availability of facilities in the school influence the development of psychomotor skills among pre-primary school pupils in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
- Investigate if availability of qualified teachers in the school influence the psychomotor skills development of pre-primary school pupils in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
- Assess how teachers use of playway method of teaching influence their psychomotor skill development in pre-primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
1.4 Significance of the Study
- The study will reveal if school variables certainly influence the psychomotor skills development of pre-primary school pupils.
- It will expose the impact of school facilities on the development of psychomotor skills among pre-primary school pupils.
- It will enable government to employ and send to our pre-primary and primary schools qualified teachers.
- It will also enable the government to equip our pre-primary and primary school with modern textbooks to aid pupils’ psychomotor skills development.
- Lastly, the study will serve as a reference manual for prospective researchers who may wish to undertake a study on similar or related issues.
