Assessing games teachers' competence in training kids athletics events in primary schools in soroti city, Uganda

Abstract

This study assessed games teachers' competence in training kids' athletics events in primary schools in Soroti City, Uganda. The study looked at the competence of games teachers in relation to the selection and use of appropriate materials in training kid's athletics events, establish the games teachers' competence to organize and demonstrate kids' athletics events, assess challenges that affect games teachers in training kids' athletics and suggest way of mitigating the challenges that affect games teachers' competence in training kids' athletics events in Soroti City. The study was carried out to 36 Games Teachers and two hundred sixteen (216) pupils throughout eighteen (18) chosen primary schools in Soroti City, Uganda. The schools were purposefully selected and the participants were games teachers and Pupils between (7 to 14) years, this mixed methods study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. Interviews, questionnaires, and observations were used to gather data. Statistical Packages for Social Scientists (SPSS) software was used to conduct a descriptive analysis of the data. Frequency distributions, percentages and mean tables, were used to illustrate the findings. The study results showed that game teachers knew how to choose materials and other supplies for Kids' Athletics. The teachers were competent in organizing and demonstrating shot-put (M=2.94 ±SE= 0.18), event compared to other selected activities. The major challenges observed in the study were lack of training courses and equipment that affect the training of kid's athletics programme. The study recommends that the best way to address the issues mentioned is to provide equipment and refresher courses.