IMPLEMENTATION OF STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACH IN TEACHING PHYSICALEDUCATION CLASS ROOM. THE CASE OF SOME SELECTED HIGH SCHOOLS IN LALO ASSABI WOREDA,WEST WOLLEGA ZONE, WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

As indicated in the Ethiopian education and Training policy document, the previous curriculum design and instructional process suffered from old and traditional approach (TGE 1994), Teachers dominated the class room instruction, where learners are passively listening, which promote learners independent learning and active participation has occupied an important place. The main purpose of this study was to assess the status of implementation of student- centered approach or method in teaching physical education class room of grade ten (10th and 9th) in selected secondary schools of LaloAssabiWoreda, West Wollega zone. Descriptive survey method was employed to accomplish the study. Students,2 PE teachers, and 2 directors were the subject of the study. In this study, systematic random sampling method was used. Hence, a total of 133 students were the participants of the study. The questionnaire was the main data gathering instrument which was supported by observation and semi structured interviews. The study indicated that all physical education teachers sample schools have develop positive attitude towards student- centered method. Learners have low perception about students- centered method of learning and the extent of participating student- centered method in physical education class room situation was found low. According to the result of the study, teachers shortage of appropriate pre service and in service training on student- centered method (50%), average class size above 70 and inadequacy of some instructional materials such as reference books as most students respondents (54.9%) agree were’’ rarely’’ and this in turn has affected effective implementation of student-centered approach in teaching physical education classroom. To alleviate these problems: ministry of education have to arrange short-time and long-term trainings to ensure success, education experts have to discuss up on this issue and provide continuous training for the teachers and the directors, and stake- holders have to work collaboratively to works the country’s projected average student section ratio which is 40 were forwarded as recommendation .