A Survey of the Status of School Physical Education in Public Primary Schools in Edo State
The purpose of this study is to examine the status of school P. E. Against this backdrop, four research questions were raised in the areas of scope of activities, sports facilities/equipment and sports personnel to establish benchmark for the study. A total of 486 sample sizes were selected proportionately from a population of 1215, being 40% of the total population. A checklist for surveying the status of school Physical Education programme was used. As a first step toward establishing benchmark, 30 primary schools were administered with prototype checklist. The benchmark were achieved by using normal distribution curve and the results obtained later converted to z– scores, and a scale of low, moderate, and high status derived. This was later used to describe the data obtained, having been analysed using simple percentage. The scope of Physical Education programme rated high status on team sports /games and track & field sports facilities equally rated high status. Sports equipment rated low status; finally sports personnel generally rated low status except OND/NCE which rated moderate status.
Management Factors As Predictors Of Sports Development In Selected Sport Federations Of The Federal Ministry Of Sports And Social Development In Nigeria
Sports management serves as the bedrock of sports development of any nation. There is the need to manage the vast sports’ resources, which include financial, material and human resources that exist in the field of sports. The ultimate aim is to achieve set objectives. In spite of the resource potentialities existing in this country for sports, Nigeria has not made any appreciable impact in international sports. This study, therefore, investigated the relationship among management factors and sports development in selected sports federation of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development in Nigeria (FMS & SD). Descriptive survey research design using validated and structured questionnaire, was adopted. Purposive sampling technique was used to select national sports mangers and National Institute for Sports coaches while simple random sampling was used to pick states sports managers, coaches and national athletes and coaches. A total of nine hundred and sixty participants were involved in the study. A reliability coefficient of r=0.87 was obtained for the instrument using Cronbach Alpha. Data were analyzed using multiple regressions to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significant level. At the end of the study, it was discovered that managerial skill (B=.314; Beta = .250; t= 8.358; p<0.05) and government policy (B = .128; Beta = . 097; t = 3.563; p<0.05) made relative contributions to the dependent variable, personal/professional preparation (B = 3.688; Beta = .044; t = 1.794; p>0.05) did not make significant but minimal contribution to the development of sports in Nigeria. Introduction Sport has permeated the Nigerian society just as it was in many other societies worldwide. A lot of media coverage has been devoted to sports. This view is supported by Morakinyo (2000) when he pointed out that sport is a social phenomenon that has grown from its humble beginning of being an entertainment and recreation pastime to become a visible and prominent business phenomenon that could no more be ignored in the social, political and economic environment of any nation. The relevance and importance of sports make sports management the bedrock for sports development in virtually all nations. This is the aspect that is responsible for the International Journal of African & African American Studies Vol. VII, No. 1, Jan 2008 smooth-running of various sports in terms of planning, organizing, directing and controlling all essential inputs in sports. Sports succeed or fail in direct proportion to the appropriate decisions and actions of these responsible for managing them (Oloruntoba and Achugbu, 2000). Management involves the interaction between those who administer and those who participate in sporting process. Massie and Douglass (1981) refer to management as the attainment of organizational goals in an effective and efficient manner through planning, organizing, leading and controlling organizational resources. Compared to other fields of endeavors, sports management is relatively new (Parkhouse, 1996). It is an offshoot of the older field called Physical Education. However, sports management has expanded to include professional sports, facility management, event management and other areas. The Federal Republic of Nigeria Sports Development Policy (1989) defined sports development as “the process of continuous improvement of the sport structure, institutions and programmes in order to create a societal condition conducive to physical fitness for all and the effective functioning and self-actualization. This document under reference, categorized sports development under the following components; International sports, Indigenous sports, Stadium management, Institutional sports and Sports federations. Sports development in Nigeria has witnessed a lot of metamorphosis from the colonial pre-independence to independence eras. However, those at the helm of affairs in the sports ministry had been non-professionals and this had negatively affected the fortunes of sports development in Nigeria (Ajiduah, 2001, Onifade, 2000 and Oyewusi, 1996). In addition, the vision 2010 committee revealed that some of the problems affecting sports development in Nigeria include poor administration of sports at the three tiers of government, frequent changes in the machinery and administrative structure of sport as well as in the leadership and membership of the governing bodies. This study therefore attempts to look at management factors as predictors of sport development in selected sports federations of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development (FMS&SD) in Nigeria. The focus of this study is on management skills, government policy and personal/professional preparation as management factors. Management involves clear, definable functions, such as planning, organizing, staffing, leading, communicating and controlling. Massie and Douglass (1981) pointed out that management involves cooperation of individuals and thus deals with the behavioral components of how people in groups can best work together Decanzo and Robbins (1988) defined management as working with and through individuals and groups to efficiently accomplish organizational goals. It is imperative therefore, that sport personnel thoroughly understand the importance of effective and efficient management. In sports management, athletes and coaches level of performance depends largely on the cooperation and efficiency of the sport manger in attending to their needs. All these individuals are regarded today, as practitioners in the field of sport management. Sports management is the bedrock or corner stone for sports development in virtually all nations. This is the aspect that is responsible for the smooth-running of various sports in terms of planning, organizing, directing and controlling all essentials inputs in sports. Sports succeed or fail in direct proportion to the appropriate decisions and actions of those who are responsible for managing them (Oloruntoba and Achugbu, 2002). Robbins (1988) stated that management is the process of getting activities completed efficiently with and through other people. The process, according to him, represents the functions or primary activities engaged in by the managers. He further stated that management has several generic properties and regardless of level in an organization, all 47 International Journal of African & African American Studies Vol. VII, No. 1, Jan 2008 managers perform the same job and functions regardless of the type of organization. However, the emphasis given to each function varies with the manager’s position in the hierarchy. Ajiduah (2001) and Duru (2001) pointed out that the problem of Nigerian sports is that of leadership failure. Non-professionals who know nothing about sports development and so could not deliver good results because no one can give what he or she does not have people the sports avenue. Most of the sports managers in Nigeria function on trial and error basis depending on their secretaries and coaches who sometimes are not competent enough in the area of sports administration. Amuchie (2002) and Ajiduah (2001) concluded that due to the incompetence and constant changing of our sports administrators there is hardly any form of continuity in Nigeria’s sports development. Policy has been defined as a definitive course of action selected from various alternatives to guide and determine present and future decisions (Parkhouse, 1996). Policies are developed from mission statements, which should be the basis for establishing all aspects of the operational procedures. Massie and Douglass (1981) and Koontz, O’Donnell and Weihrich (1980) revealed that policies are plans, in that they are general statements or understandings which guide or channel thinking and action in decision making. But then, all policies could not be referred to as statements because, according to Parkhouse (1996), policy is the reason – the why – behind managements decision to function in a particular manner. Formulation of policies are essential to the efficient administration of any sports organization without appropriate policies in place, there is little to guide the activities and conduct of the establishment in the pursuit of its goals. Bucher and Krotee (2002) pointed out that efficient management of sport requires the establishment of sound policies if it is to achieve its goals. Policies serve as a standing plan or guide in general terms of how sport organization will run and how its activities are to be conducted. For a policy to be effective, it must, according to Donnelly, Gibson and Ivancerich (1984), have the characteristics of flexibility, comprehensive, coordination, ethical and clarity, to attain set objectives, if the policy does not lead to achieving set objectives, then it should be revised, and in any case, policies should be reviewed periodically. The Federal Government of Nigeria in 1986 released a National Sports Policy which has the objective of awakening the sports consciousness of the citizens and ensure mass participation in sports for the physical, mental and moral growth and development of people. Onifade (2000) and Audu (1998) pointed out that the policy has not been able to achieve its set objectives. The administration of any organization is a function that requires personal and professional preparations. Sport is a technical area that requires adequate preparation for those that will manage sports. A good sports manager should have a thorough knowledge of sports; possess educational degree, preferably in the area of sports administration, professional attitude and commitment, in addition to personal characteristics like personality, intelligence, fairness, flexibility, integrity, honesty, leadership and sincere interest in the management of sports. Duru (2001) pointed out that there is nothing basically wrong with Nigeria or her athletes, the problem is that we have sports administrators who are not pr
Marie Curie's doctoral thesis: Prelude to a Nobel Prize
This paper is a critical account for the most significant body of Marie Sklodowska Curie's scientific work, presented in the hopes that she be remembered for more of the "right" reasons. It also offers some new insights into her methods and results.