An Evaluation of Speed and Strength Standards for Lower Primary Schools in the Akuapem North District of Ghana

ABSRACT

Physical activity should help improve muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance, as well as serves as a vehicle that helps children establish selfesteem and strive for achievable, personal goals. Improving the quality of physical education is necessary to achieve potential health-benefits in the child and adolescent populations. A calculated shift to national standards will provide teachers with a timely opportunity to examine the direction of their own physical education programmes (NASPE, 2004).This study was carried out as an evaluation of speed and strength standards of lower primary schools in Ghana. In the study 1200 pupils in the lower primary class 1-3 from the Akuapem North District of Ghana were used. This was made up of 600 boys and 600 girls. The sample size was drawn from twenty selected schools in Akuapem. The tests administered were the 30m dash and the standing broad jump. The 30m dash test was used to measure speed and standing broad jump test used to measure the horizontal leg strength of the subjects. The quasi experiment research design was employed for this project. Data collected was analyzed using the t-test and conclusions were drawn. Generally it was observed that the boys performed better than the girls in all the grade levels. The average performance of the girls in the speed test was 6.50sec and of boys was 6.30sec. In the broad jump the girls and boys had an average score of 1.2m and 1.3m respectfully. It was recommended that teachers specify exactly what will be assessed in order to return more useful information about student achievement.