Significance of Physical Education in College Curriculum as Perceived

by Students at St. Francis Caracciolo Culinary Academy

Submitted by:
Bares, Jinky
Guevarra, Dionisio Jr.

Submitted to:
Mr. Jaypee Acula
1.0 Introduction

Attitudes held by students towards school subjects differ due to different factors

influencing their feeling towards the subjects. Attitudes often vary across the different

subject areas and Physical Education is not an exception. The study of O’Neil (2015)

have shown that girls and boys hold different attitudes towards Physical Education and

this attitude becomes less positive as their age increases.

Although from the theoretical point of view, almost everyone knows that sporting

activities can enhance physical health and also is an entertainment, but unfortunately

from the practical point of view, a few are interested in this subject. And although many

believed that physical activity, fitness and relaxation have many benefits for the human

body, but yet many college students develop negative attitude towards this subject.

According to the findings of Abdullah, et al., (2016) extensive research has been

documented in relation to student attitudes in the discipline of Physical Education. But,

during the teaching and learning process, some physical education teachers are

sometimes unaware or fail to take cognizance of the student attitudes towards physical

education that this attitude could either degenerate or improve during their years in

school without teachers being aware of such changes.

As studied by Ajzen (2011), attitudes develop at an early age and can be changed

based on situational contexts such as a particular teacher or the class environment. In

other words, a student's attitude toward a particular subject in school can be shaped by

his/her perception of the teacher or instructional setting. Students’ perceptions about

physical education classes are important to understand as they can influence an

individual's decision to begin or to continue participation in an activity. So, the

researchers deemed necessary to study the students' perception of physical education in

college program.

Moreover, college students tend to focus more on their major subjects so they

sometimes view Physical Education as a burden as a result of negative experiences in the

situational context.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the significance of Physical

Education in college curriculum as perceived by college students at St. Francis of

Caracciolo Culinary Academy. More specifically, this study aims to answer the following

questions: a) Do college students at St. Francis of Caracciolo Culinary Academy view PE

as significant subject in college? b) What are the factors influencing their attitudes

towards PE in college?

2.0 Methodology

2.1 Participants

This research used percentage technique and weighted mean to get the

distribution of respondents in terms of significance of Physical Education in college

curriculum.
The formula used:

Percentage Technique

F
P= x100
N

Where:

P= Percentage

F= Frequency

N= Total number of respondents

100= constant

Systematic random sampling technique will be used to pick the sample from the

given population. This will be employed to provide every college student to provide an

equal chance to be included in the sample and that the result would more or less describe

the real characteristics of the population.

2.2 Instrument

A researcher-made questionnaire will be used in data gathering. It consists of five

(5) questions that will determine the attitude of the college students at St. Francis
Caracciolo Culinary Academy, and will determine their perceptions as to whether PE is

of significance in college education.

Questions:

1. Age and gender of students

2. Do you think P.E is an important subject? Yes or no?

3. How will you evaluate P.E subject as a part of your life? Not important or very

important?

4. Would you still prefer having P.E as a subject in your curriculum? Yes or No?

5. What are your recommendations for the P.E Subject?

2.3 Statistical Treatment

The researchers will analyze the data through the use of descriptive statistics.

Descriptive statistics will be used to describe the basic features of the study the same as it

is also used to present quantitative descriptions in a manageable form. It will provide

simple summaries about the sample and the measures. With descriptive statistics you are

simply describing what is or what the data show (Trochim, 2006).

Age Frequency Percentage

18-20 25 50%

21-23 15 30%
23 above 10 20%

Total=50 100%

As the table presented major of respondents belong to the age bracket 18-20 years

old with the frequency of 25 or 50% of the respondents are in the common age. Freshmen

students out of 50 students 15 or 30% of them are in the age bracket of 21 to 23 of age

and out of 50 students 10 or 20% are in the age of 23 above. The data revealed that most

of the freshmen are 18-20 years old which indicate that they are active and more willing

to help.

Gender Frequency Percentage

Male 15 30%

Female 35 70%

As the table presented major of the respondent belong to the Gender bracket male

with the frequency of 15 or 30% of the respondents and Out of 50 students is Female 35

or 70%.

All students answer the question number two (2) all of the respondents(50 or

100%) emphasized that Physical Education as a subject is an important part of our life

not just as a students but in a holistic manner.(3) majority of the respondents 40 or 80 %

persuaded that P.E is very important in our life and 10% or 20% stated that P.E subjects
is important while 0% or none of the respondents responded P.E Subject as not

important, it only means that P.E subject has an important role in our lives.(4)

The respondents’ take-away if they still prefer having Physical Education as a

subject in the curriculum, having a total of (50 or 100%) respondents, only 30% of them

disagreed and did not want Physical Education to be included in the curriculum as per

these respondents’ main reason was they either do not feel equipped on some activities

that the subject has such as outdoor activities for some of the school programs and other

activities that asks major effort from them as they have explained that they are lacking

some necessary things for those kinds of activities done in Physical Education subject.

While 70% of the respondents still prefer Physical Education to be included in the

curriculum as it has helped them become better on some activities that are performed and

done for the subject and says that it boosts their confidences and help them in

maintaining good stature.

As per the last question, the respondents has almost the same answers regarding

with their recommendations for Physical Education as a subject in the curriculum. The

majority which comprises of 60% of them said that Physical Education should be taught

by licensed instructors so that they can be able to teach the specific things about the

subject and so they can address what a student needs for the subject thoroughly not just

for the sake of passing the subject or for it being a minor subject that is mostly

unappreciated by the students nowadays. While the 20% of the respondents said that

Physical Education should have its own categorization for students, that it should have
some categories depending on the qualities and skills the student has to be more efficient

in honing and improving that certain skill/s. Lastly, 20% of the respondents also

recommends that Physical Education should be more fun for the students for it to be

taken importance of and given attention to just like the other subjects.