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A study on the effects of inadequate sport equipment and facilities on sports

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DOI: 10.14419/je.v1i1.13946

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 SPC Journal of Education, 1 (1) (2018) 4-8

SPC Journal of Education

Website: www.sciencepubco.com/index.php/JE

Research paper

A study on the effects of inadequate sport equipment and

facilities on sports development and academic
performance in primary schools: a case
study of Bwari area council of
Abuja-Nigeria
Dahiru M. Sanni 1, 2, 3, Caleb Ede 3, Adebayo A. Fashina 3, 4 *
1Department of Theoretical and Applied Physics, African University of Science and Technology, PMB 681, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
2 Department of Physics, Federal University, PMB 5001, Dutsin-ma, Kastina, Nigeria
3 Department of Research and Development, Comprehensive Educational Consults, 4 Kudang Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II,
Abuja, Nigeria
4 Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tubman University, P. O. Box 3570, Harper City, Maryland County, Liberia

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Since physical education was designed to help students develop their physical, mental, and social abilities, there is a need to explore the
development of sport in Nigerian schools, particularly, in the primary schools. This paper presents the results of a survey that provides
insights on the effect of inadequate sporting facilities and equipment on the development of sports in primary schools in Bwari Area
Coun-cil, FCT-Abuja, Nigeria. The six month questionnaire study was carried out in fifteen selected primary schools from the four edu-
cational zones in the Area Council. The questionnaire was administered to 195 teachers from the selected schools before the data collect-
ed was analyzed using simple percentage approach. The study identifies the factors that influence non-participation of schools in this
Area council in sport competitions. The academic and social impacts of providing adequate sporting activities, equipment and facilities
are discussed before recommending the appropriate programs that can help enhance sport development at the primary school level in
Bwari Area Coun-cil and Nigeria at large.

Keywords: Sport Development; Primary School; Sport Equipment; Sport Facilities; Academic Impact and Nigeria.

this premise that Ojeme [9] and Aluko [10] stated that physical
1. Introduction education programmes within the school hours (without basis
facilities and equipment) are insufficient to address the need to
For over three decade now, there has been increasing interest in develop the abilities and skills of the entire pupils’ body and in-
the development of sports among the Nigerian youths [1]. This has crease voluntary participation in games and other activities [9-11].
led to the introduction of sport activities in schools and physical In addition, Agbonlahor [12] was of the view that lack of fund is a
education into the school curriculum by the national policy on strong factor that is affecting the procurement or purchase of
education in 1982 [2], [3]. These efforts is geared towards helping sports equipment in schools, which in turn affects the growth of
children/youths develop physically, mentally and socially to their physical education and sports development [12]. However, most
maximum potential in order to become well rounded, happy, intel- schools say even though their school fees are modest, only a small
ligent, and socially sensitive. And since primary education is gen- percentage of parents bother to pay, leaving them with little fund-
erally seen as the foundation of formal teaching, social activities ing to buy equipment and do maintenance. Agbonlahor [12] also
are expected to be of priority in the development of primary stated that the improvement of the standard/development of sports
schools pupils [4-6]. largely depend on the availability of equipment and basic training
Aluko and Adodo [7] made emphasis on this when they stated that skills provided to children. Toriola [13] and Adebayo [14] also
activities of learning at the primary level should be adequately express dissatisfaction in the manner which football fields are
diversified to ensure good growth and development of the child been converted to school buildings thereby denying school chil-
[7]. The authors further explained that by the virtue of the age dren the much needed facilities to play [13], [14]. Adebayo also
group of the primary school pupils, children at this level of growth cited cases where a typical primary school in Nigeria may be hav-
usually possess a lot of natural energy that can drive them to learn ing gigantic architectural show-piece for its facilities and equip-
adequately [7]. Taggert [8] was also of the opinion that at the pri- ment in terms of hostels, library and yet its playground is critically
mary level of education, the pupils need programme of activities having a bare ground surface with undulating playing field [14].
that are capable of simulating their interest and attention. It is on

Copyright © 2018 Dahiru M. Sanni et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which per-
mits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
SPC Journal of Education 5

In spite of the prescription by the National Policy on Education 4.5. Validation of instrument
that all primary school should have play-ground for pupils, many
primary schools in Nigeria still lack basic sports equipment that The research questionnaire was subjected to content and face va-
enhances intra-mural sports [15]. Records have also shown that lidity by three experts in physical and health education. Some
over the past decade sports facilities and equipment in primary necessary adjustments were made before the final administration
schools are grossly inadequate and outdated [16]. The poor of the instrument.
maintenance culture and inadequacy of sports facilities and
equipment however signifies that sports development in Nigeria is 4.6. Reliability of instrument
not placed on the high priority list in the primary educational sys-
tem [17]. There is, therefore, a need to explore the effects of inad- The reliability of the instrument was determined by using test-
equate sport equipment and facilities on sports development in retested method. The instrument was first administered to the re-
Nigerian primary schools. spondents a month before the second administration of instrument
was carried out. A correlation coefficient of 0.68 was reached
2. Purpose of the study using Pearson product movement correlation co-efficient.

The main purpose of the study is to discover the effects of inade-

4.7. Method of data analysis
quate sport equipment and facilities on the development of sports
The method used to analyze the data obtained in the study was the
in primary schools in Bwari Area Council. Precisely, the study
simple percentage method, where the raw score was divided by
sought to:
total number of the respondents and then multiplied by one hun-
a) Find out the effect of non-availability of sports equipment
dred.
on the performance of primary school pupils in sports.
b) Find out how effective sport equipment is to sport activities
in primary school in Bwari Area Council. 5. Result
c) Identify the factors that influence the non-participation of
schools in this Area council in local and national sport com- 5.1. Research question 1
petitions.
Do your school have enough sports equipment and facilities? The
3. Research questions result is shown in Table 1.

Table 1: The Percentage Analysis of Sports Equipment in Primary

The following research questions guided the study: Schools in Bwari Area Council
a) Does lack of sport facilities affect sports activities in Variables Frequency of Responses Percentages
schools in Bwari Area Council? Yes 35 18.9%
b) Does lack of sports equipment hinder the sports perfor- No 150 81.1%
mance of schools in Bwari Area Council? Total 185 100.0%
c) Does lack of sports facilities affect sport competitions in
Bwari Area Council? The data in Table 1 revealed that 81.1% of the respondents were
d) To what extent does lack of sports facilities affect the de- of the opinion that their schools do not have adequate sports
velopment of sports in Bwari Area Council? equipment, while the remaining 18.9% respondents were of the
e) What are the adequate sporting activities that can positively opinion that there was enough sports equipment in their schools.
increase the academic and social impact of pupils in Bwari
Area Council? 5.2. Research question 2

4. Methodology Do primary schools lack sports equipment in Bwari Area Council?

The result is shown in Table 2.
4.1. Research design Table 2: The Percentage Analysis of the Availability of Sports Equipment
in Primary Schools in Bwari Area Council
The research method adopted was the descriptive survey research Variables Frequency of Responses Percentages
design which permits the description of situation as it exists. The Yes 165 89.2%
research survey covers all the primary schools in the entire Bwari No 20 10.8%
Area Council. Total 185 100.0%

4.2. Population of the study The data in Table 2 revealed that 89.3% of the respondents were
of the opinion that primary schools in Bwari Area Council lacks
The study covered 121 primary schools in Bwari Area Council sports equipment, while the remaining 10.8% respondents were of
with a total of 1634 teachers. the opinion that primary schools in Bwari Area Council do not
lack sports equipment.
4.3. Samples and sampling techniques
5.3. Research question 3
The sample size was 11.9% of the total population which was 195
respondents. 185 copies of instrument were returned. Simple ran- What are the sports equipments available in selected schools? The
dom sampling technique was used to select samples for the study. result is shown in Table 3.

4.4. Research instrument

The instrument used in this study for data collection was a struc-
tured questionnaire that was developed by the researchers. The
questionnaire consisted of 14 research question that sought infor-
mation on sport equipment and its effect on sport development.
6 SPC Journal of Education

Table 3: The sports equipment available in selected primary in Variables Frequency of Response Percentage
Bwari Area Council Football 92 49.7%
Frequency Volleyball 45 24.3%
Variables High Jump 48 25.9%
S/N Schools of Re- Percentages
(Equipment) Total 185 100.0%
sponse
Football 14 7.6%
Pilot Primary School,
Volley ball 15 8.1% The data in Table 6 revealed that 92 (49.7%) respondents indicat-
1 Spike shoes 0 0.0% ed that pupils in primary schools in Bwari Area Council liked
Bwari
Batons 12 6.5% football as favourite sport, 45 (24.3%) respondents indicated vol-
Hand ball 8 4.3% leyball, while the remaining 48 (25.9%) respondents indicated that
Football
20 11.0%
pupils in primary schools in Bwari Area Council preferred high
Government day Volley ball jump to other sports.
3 1.6%
2 Primary Racket
30 16.2%
SchoolMpape. High Jump
stand
32 17.3% 5.7. Research question 7
Football 9 4.8% Does the Area Council provide adequate sports equipment for the
Volley ball 14 7.5% school? The result is shown in Table 7.
Unity Montessori
3 Hand ball 7 3.8%
School, Kubwa
Long Jump 21 11.4%
Table 7: The Percentage Analysis of the Sports Equipment Provided by
Table tennis 19 10.3%
the Area Council
Total 185 100.0%
Variables Frequency of Response Percentage
Adequate 18 9.7%
The data in Table 3 revealed the numbers of sports equipment Fairly adequate 43 23.2%
available in primary schools in Bwari Area Council as follows: 43 Not adequate 124 67.0%
(23.2%) for football, 19 (10.3%) for tennis, 0 (0%) for spike Total 185 100.0%
shoes, 12 (6.5%) for baton, 30 (16.2%) for racket, 32 (17.3%) for
volley ball, 32 (17.3%) for high jump stands and 21 (11.4%) for The data in Table 7 revealed that 67% of the respondents were of
long jump board. the opinion that the sport equipment provided by the Area Council
is inadequate, 23.2% of the respondents indicated that the provi-
5.4. Research question 4 sion of sports equipment by the Area Council is fairly adequate,
while the remaining 9.7% respondents believes that it is adequate.
Have your school participated in any sports competition? The
result is shown in Table 4. 5.8. Research question 8
Table 4: The Percentage Analysis of the Number of Primary Schools in Are pupils satisfied with the sports equipment available in the
Bwari Area Council That Had Participated in at Least One Competition school? The result is shown in Table 8.
Variables Frequency of Responses Percentage
Yes 142 76.8% Table 8: The Percentage Analysis of the Satisfaction of Pupils with the
No 43 23.2% Available Sports Equipment in Primary Schools in Bwari Area Council
Total 185 100.0%
Variables Frequency of Response Percentage
Yes 46 24.9%
The data in Table 4 revealed that 76.8% of the respondents were No 139 75.1%
of the opinion that their schools had participated in sports compe- Total 185 100.0%
titions, while the remaining 23.2% respondents were of the opin-
ion that their schools have never participated in completion. The data in Table 8 revealed that 46 (24.9%) respondents indicat-
ed that pupils were satisfied with the sports equipment available in
5.5. Research question 5 primary schools in Bwari Area Council, 139 (75.1%) respondents
indicated that pupils were not satisfied with the available sports
Have your school won any medal? The result is shown in Table 5. equipment.

Table 5: The Percentage Analysis of the Number of Primary Schools in 5.9. Research question 9
Bwari Area Council That Had Won at Least One Medal
Frequency of Do you think the availability of sports equipment in your school
Variables (Schools) Responses Percentage
Response
has any effect on the of sports development at the primary level of
Pilot Primary School,
Yes 84 59.2% education? The result is shown in Table 9 below.
Bwari
Government day Primary
No 58 40.8% Table 9: The Percentage Analysis of the Effect of Sports Equipment on
School Mpape
Total 142 100.0% Sports Development at the Primary Level of Education in Bwari Area
Council
Variables Frequency of Response Percentage
The data in Table 5 revealed that 84 (59.2%) respondents indicat-
Yes 127 68.6%
ed that their schools had won medals, while the remaining 58 No 58 31.4%
(40.8%) respondents indicated that their schools have never won a Total 185 100.0%
medal in any completion.
The data in Table 9 revealed that 68.6% of the respondents were
5.6. Research question 6 of the opinion that the availability of sport equipment in schools
do influence sports development at the primary level of education
What area of sports do your pupils like most? The result is shown in the Area Council, while 31.4% of the respondents indicated that
in Table 6. availability of sport equipment does not affect sports development
at the primary level of education in the Area Council.
Table 6: The Percentage Analysis of the Area of Sport Liked Most by the
Pupils in Primary Schools in Bwari Area Council
5.10. Research question 10
SPC Journal of Education 7

Do teachers engage their pupils in most areas of sports? The result only be enhanced in primary schools in Bwari Area Council when
is shown in Table 10. trained physical instructor/educators are available to teach pupils
on how best to handle the available equipment, while the remain-
Table 10: The Percentage Analysis of the Engagement of Pupils in All ing 28.6% of the respondents provided different reasons.
Areas of Sports by the Teachers
Variables Frequency of Response Percentage 5.14. Research question 14
Yes 117 63.2%
No 68 36.8%
Does sports equipment attract the interest of pupils in participating
Total 185 100.0%
in sports activities? The result is shown in Table 14.
The data in Table 10 revealed that 63.2% of the respondents were Table 14: The Percentage Analysis of the Effect of Sports Equipment on
of the opinion that teachers engage their pupils in most areas of the Interest of Pupils in Participating in Sports Activities
sports, while the remaining 36.8% of the respondents disagreed. Variables Frequency of Response Percentage
Yes 164 88.6%
5.11. Research question 11 No 21 11.4%
Total 185 100.0%
If No in research question 10, please state some reasons. The re-
sult is shown in Table 11. The data in Table 14 revealed that 164 (88.6%) respondents were
of the opinion that sports equipment attracts the interest of pupils
Table 11: The Percentage Analysis of Reasons Why 68 Teachers Disa- in participating in sports activities, while the remaining 21
greed That Teachers Engage Pupils in Most Areas of Sports (11.4%) respondents disagreed.
Frequency
Variables of Re- Percentage
sponse 6. Discussion
Teachers do not engage the pupils in all areas
of sport s because most of the teachers are not The findings in Tables 1 and 2 reveal that majority of the primary
38 55.9%
trained Physical and Health Education Instruc- schools in Bwari Area Council either lack sports equipment or do
tors. They know little about sports and it rules
Other reasons 20 44.1%
not have adequate sports equipment, which has thus, contributed
Total 68 100.0% immensely to the poor performance of the pupils’ in sports. How-
ever, it can be deduced from Table 3 that only eight (8) types of
The data in Table 11 revealed that 55.9% of the respondents who sport equipment are available in the primary schools that have
were of the opinion that teachers do not engage their pupils in sports equipment. These include football, tennis, spike shoes, ba-
most areas of sports identified the lack of trained physical educa- ton, racket, volley ball, high jump stands and long jump board.
tion instructors/teachers as one of the major factors that affect the The data in Table 4 reveals that most of primary schools in Bwari
involvement of pupils in most areas of sports, while the remaining Area Council had participated in sport competitions at least once,
44.1% of the respondents provided different reasons. and of the numbers that had participated in sport competitions,
only 59.2% had won sport medals as shown in Table 5. Further-
5.12. Research question 12 more, the findings in Table 6 reveal that pupils in primary schools
in Bwari Area Council preferred football as their favourite sport
Do you think that adequate sports equipment can enhance sports compared to the other available sports. The data in Table 7 reveals
performance? The result is shown in Table 12 below. that the sports equipment provided by the Area Council to primary
schools is inadequate and the primary pupils are not satisfied with
Table 12: The Percentage Analysis of the Effect of Adequate Sports the available sports equipment in their various schools as indicated
Equipment on Sports Performance in Primary Schools in Bwari Area in the results presented in Table 8.
Council In addition, the study further reveals in Table 9 that the availabil-
Variables Frequency of Response Percentage ity of sports equipment can influence the development of sports at
Yes 157 84.9% the primary level of education in the Area Council. The data in
No 28 15.1% Tables 10 and 11 reveals that teachers engage their pupils in most
Total 185 100.0% areas of sports and identified the lack of trained physical education
instructors/teachers as one of the major factors that affect the in-
The data in Table 12 revealed that 157 (84.9%) respondents were volvement of pupils in most areas of sports respectively. Evidenc-
of the opinion that adequate sports equipment can enhance sports es around the world have shown that the quality of a nation’s edu-
performance in primary schools in Bwari Area Council, while the cational system cannot exceed the quality of the teaching in the
remaining 28 (15.1%) respondents disagreed. country [18]. The finding in Tables 12 and 13 also reveals that
adequate sports equipment can enhance sports performance in
5.13. Research question 13 primary schools in Bwari Area Council if trained physical instruc-
tor/educators are available to teach pupils on how best to handle
If No, what are your reasons? The result is shown in Table 13. the available equipment. The results in Table 14 reveal that sports
equipment attracts or increase the interest of primary pupils in
Table 13: Factors That Reduces Sports Performance in Primary Schools in participating in sports activities.
Bwari Area Council
Frequency
Variables Percentage 7. Implications
of Response
1. Performance is enhance by
trained physical educator which are lacking 20 71.4% The implications of this study are quite significant. First, the re-
in schools sults from the study show that the pupils’ interest and performance
2. Other reasons 8 28.6%
in sports depend largely on the availability of sports equipment.
3. Total 28 100.0%
Consequently, the need to ensure that adequate sports equipment
are provided in various primary schools in Bwari Area Council
cannot be over emphasized, following the interest the pupils have
The data in Table 13 revealed that 71.4% of the respondents who
in sports activities. This implies that children within this age group
were of the opinion that adequate sports equipment cannot en-
are mostly inspired by these sport activities which serves as a
hance sports performance believed that sport performance can
 8 SPC Journal of Education

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education practical sessions must involve the use of sports
equipment.

Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to thank the Head Teachers and Class
Teacher of the selected primary schools in Bwari Area Council of
Abuja for useful scientific discussions and contributions. Appreci-
ation is also extended to Comprehensive Educational Consults for
financial support.

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