The document discusses physical education, defining it as education focused on physical development through body movements and motor skills. It covers the main objectives of physical education, which include developing motor skills, knowledge of human body functioning, tactics for sports/games, and socio-psychological aspects. The scope of physical education is also examined, including contents related to games/sports heritage, mechanics, biology, health/wellness, psycho-social development, and talent identification. Issues with implementing aspects of physical education in South African schools are raised.

1. UNDERSTANDING
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION
NP Ngobeni
University of Johannesburg
Email: mlambya060@gmail.com
Source: https://googl.ru.com/4KA

2. What is Physical Education?
► Derived from Latin word “physica” meaning physics and “educatio”
meaning training of the body.
► Is a planned , sequential instruction that promotes
lifelong physical activity. It is designed to develop
basic movement skills, sport skills, and physical
fitness as well as to enhance mental, social and
emotional abilities.
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3. What is Physical Education?
► The word “physical” refers to the motor abilities and the physical development of the body, whereas the word
“education” refers to the training and guidance provided to the learner. Therefore, these terms, when united, are
indicative of the education provided to the learners that emphasizes on physical development which includes all
the body movements and motor abilities.
► A course offered from primary to tertiary level that utilizes learning in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor
domains in a play or movement exploration setting.
► Physical competence and knowledge of movement and safety in learners, and their ability to use these to
perform in a wide range of activities associated with the development of an active and healthy lifestyle.

4. 4 Physical Education Main Objectives
1. Develop motor skills such as strength,
speed, endurance, coordination, flexibility,
agility and balance, for better performance
in games and sports.
▪ NB: In South African Schools, this helps
eradicate poverty as students who are
found to be talented stand a higher
chance to engage in professional sports
such as football.
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5. 4 Main Objectives of physical education
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2. Acquire knowledge and understanding of how the human
body functions, as its functioning is influenced by physical
activity.
▪ NB: This is important for learners, in South African
schools, to know because amidst a pandemic like
covid-19, they will know how to act in terms of physical
activities.

6. 4 Main Objectives of physical education
3. Develop tactics and techniques used in
organized physical activities such as sports
and games.
▪ NB: In South African Schools, this
objective is not followed by teachers. I
recall my high school days, our PE
teacher used to instruct us to do anything
we want as long as we do not make noise.
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7. 4 Main Objectives of Physical Education
4. Develop socio-psychological aspects like
control of emotions, balanced behavior,
development of leadership and followership
qualities and team spirit through participation
in games and sports.
▪ NB: Many learners in South Africa bully
one another, and this is why PE teachers
should ensure that their learners acquire
these socio-psychological skills.
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8. Source: https://goo-gl.ru.com/4KU

9. Source: https://goo-gl.ru.com/4KX

10. SCOPE of Physical Education (PE)
1. Games and sports as cultural
heritage
❑ Physical Education is associated with
games and sports. Therefore,
❑ Education about a game or sport helps
to preserve the cultural heritage of the
place from where it has been
originated.
❑ In South Africa, we have indigenous
games such as Kgati, diketo, kho-kho,
dibeke etc.
2. Mechanical Aspects in PE
❑ The mechanical concepts regarding
laws of motion, lever, force and its
generation, maintenance of
equilibrium, center of gravity etc.
form part of the syllabus of
physical education.
❑ E.g. In the South African
curriculum, physical education
activities focuses on maintaining
balance, time, speed and distance
etc.
3. Biological Contents in
PE
❑ Since physical education is related
with motor abilities and skills, it is
connected with biological content
such as:
(a) Functioning of human body
systems like the digestive system,
muscular system, respiratory system etc.
that enable physical activities. (b)
Pattern of human growth and
development.
❑ In SA, the curriculum of PE includes
developing understanding of the
human body and growth.

11. SCOPE of Physical Education (PE)
4. Health Education and Wellness Physical
education Contents in PE
❑ Physical Education includes contents related to
the area of health education through
understanding the concept of hygiene, knowledge
about various communicable and
non-communicable diseases, problems relating to
health and their prevention, proper nutrition and
balanced diet.
❑ In SA, the curriculum requires that learners be
taught about health through physical activities.
5. Psycho-social Content of PE
❑ It also focuses on emotional
development, relationships with
peer/parents and others, self concept and
self esteem.
❑ study of areas regarding individual
differences, personality development,
learning of various skills, motivation
and its techniques, anxiety management,
ethical and social values, group
dynamics, cooperation, cohesiveness
and learning.
❑ In SA, games such as soccer, skipping
rope are used to promote social skills.
6. Talent Identification and
Training Content in PE
❑ Physical Education includes content
for Identifying the talents of students
with regard to activities like
calisthenics, body movements, body
postures, specific sport, aerobics etc.
❑ It also promotes several training
programmes which include warm
ups, exercises, yoga etc.
❑ In SA, training takes place through
exercises such as jogging, stretches,
etc.
❑ PE teachers in SA are encouraged to
scout for talent as they teach.

12. Food for thought!!
► Do you think the above mentioned definitions of physical education
apply to the South African education system?
► Are all the objectives carried out by Physical Education teachers in South
African schools?
► Are any of the scope(biological, social, mechanical, etc.) visible in the
South African curriculum objectives of physical education?

13. REFERENCES
• Bihari, G. (2021) physical education. Available from slideshare at
https://www.slideshare.net/GAYATRIBIHARI/understanding-physical-education (Accessed 26 August 2021).
• Khandelwal, K. (2020) Physical Education and Physical fitness. Available from
https://www.slideshare.net/shubhikhandelwal/physical-education-and-physical-fitness-235562348 (Accessed 26
August 2021).
• Matutes, V, M. (2016) motivation? Guess the type of sport. Available at
https://www.slideshare.net/VanessaMarieMatutes/physical-education-69539299 (Accessed 26 August 2021).
• Padillo, C. (2019) Physical Education. Available at
https://www.slideshare.net/CarloPadillo/physical-education-1-166067208 (Accessed 26 August 2021).

14. REFERENCES
• Jude, M. (2020). Meaning of PE. Available at
https://www.slideshare.net/MJude1/physical-education-1-238728499 (Accessed 26 August 2021).