An Investigation into How Teachers Experience Teaching Physical Education at a Primary School in the Port of Spain and Environs District

Abstract

This study investigated teachers’ experience of teaching Physical Education (PE) at a primary school in Trinidad and Tobago. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis. Analysis of the data revealed five major themes: 1) Status of Physical Education: Teacher Training; 2) Status of Physical Education: Teachers’ Perspectives; 3) Need for Specialist Primary School PE Teachers; 4) Teachers’ Past Experiences with Physical Education; and 5) Present Teaching Practice and Physical Education Misconceptions. The findings indicated that while the teachers were cognizant of the need for PE, they encountered the following challenges in teaching the subject: 1) inadequacy of trained teachers, 2) nonexistent and inadequate facilities and equipment, 3) lack of parental support for PE, 4) insufficient administrative support for PE teachers, 5) lack of knowledge and skills to effectively teach PE, and 6) heavy curriculum demand.