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The main purpose of this study was to examine the status of professional competencies of
physical education teachers in the primary and middle school in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The
study further explored differences in professional competencies on the bases of teachers’
demographic characteristics (gender, qualification, experience, and location). To this end, an
explanatory sequential mixed method design was used, first, the quantitative data were collected
and and second the qualitative case studies followed. A multistage sampling technique was
employed to select the research participants from the schools, woredas, and zones. Quantitative
data were collected using close-ended questionnaire from 405 physical education (PE) teachers
selected though cluster sampling technique. Moreover, qualitative data were collected using
interviews, focus group discussion, observation, and document reviews from teachers, students
and school directors. Both descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics
(one sample t-test, independent samples t-test, MANOVA, and CFA) were used to examine the
quantitative data. Cross-case analysis through descriptions and narrations was also used to
analyse the qualitative data. The findings of the study revealed that PE teachers appeared
incompetent in their professional knowledge (content knowledge (CK), pedagogical content
knowledge (PCK), and overall professional knowledge (OPK) due to the absence of early
exposure and lack of advanced training, lower priority of PE in relation to other subjects,
inadequate equipment and facilities, low budget, and lacked confidence in teachers’ abilities to
provide "proper" PE lessons,. Yet, PE teachers’ pedagogical knowledge (PK) competence was
relatively better. In terms of location, urban physical education teachers outperform on their
CK, PK, PCK, and OPK than rural teachers. Based on gender, male teachers showed more
competence on PK, PCK, and OPK. Yet, no difference existed on CK. In terms of qualification,
degree holder PE teachers outpace on CK whereas diploma holders displayed more competence
on PK, with no difference in their PCK and OPK. Teachers with long years of teaching
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experience were found to be competent on PK than the novices. In the professional practice
competence (PPC) dimension, PE teachers were unveiled competent on their lesson planning
(LP), but they exhibited poor competency in creating and maintaining safe and supportive
learning environment (CMSSLE) and instructional assessment (IA). This was because of the
increased numbers of students in the classroom, lack of knowledge about CMSSLE, poor spatial
configuration, inconvenient physical features and shortage of equipment. Compared to rural
school teachers, urban school teachers found competent in LP, CMSSLE, and IA. Further, male
teachers outperform on IA than female teachers; diploma teachers showed better competence on
LP, IA, and OPP; whereas no significant difference was identified in CMSSLE. Based on
experience, novice teachers appeared to be lower in their PP (LP, CMSSLE and IA).
Furthermore, PE teachers found incompetent in their professional engagement (Pr.E)
(professional learning (PL), and engaging professionally with colleagues (EPwC)) due to lack
of need based teachers’ in-service training and shortage of budget. In terms of location, rural
school teachers exhibited low competence on Pr.E and OPr.E than urban school teachers, but no
difference showed in their EPwC. Likewise, female teachers exhibited better competence in PL,
EPwC and OPE than their counterparts. Again, diploma teachers showed better competence in
PL and OPE than degree holders. Also novice teachers outperform better than their counterparts
in PL, EPwC, and the OPE. The major factors affecting the implementation of PE curricula
were categorised into school/institution related, teacher related and training related.
Accordingly, the concerned personnel at all levels (MoE, REBs, TEIs, zones, woredas, and
schools) should take corrective measures to tackle the identified gaps and challenges
investigated in this study. |
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