TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND THEIR CURRENT PARTICIPATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF DUNA WOREDA

This research paper is about assessing teachers and students awareness of the benefits of regular<br> physical activities and their current participation at selected secondary schools in Duna woreda.<br> The research focused on four basic questions and the researcher proposed and used a descriptive<br> design to assess the issue raised and collected data from primary sources only for the study. Data<br> were gathered through questionnaires and interviews. The sampling techniques which the<br> researcher used in this study were simple random sampling and other non-random/non-<br> probability sampling techniques called purposive sampling. Teachers and students were selected<br> by using simple random sampling. Purposive sampling was used to select principals. The research<br> was targeted at three main groups: students, teachers, and principals due to the belief to gain<br> firsthand information about the practices teachers and students awareness on the benefits of<br> regular physical activities and their current participation at selected secondary schools in Duna<br> woreda. These groups were chosen because of their position and vested responsibilities at the<br> schools and the expectation that they might have better exposure, experience, information, and<br> highly concerned ones. The researcher used both quantitative (being the dominant one) and<br> qualitative data analyzing methods. During the presentation of the gathered and analyzed data,<br> the researcher used percentages, mean and standard deviation. Based on the finding of the study,<br> teachers and students have no problems concerning awareness about physical health, social,<br> psychological, and economic benefits of regular physical activity. As the study finding assures<br> current participation of teachers in regular physical activity is very low. But, contrary to this, the<br> study result the current participation of students in regular physical activity is very high. Students<br> participate in any of the sports and physical activities held in school or outside the schools. In<br> schools, PE teachers should prioritize teaching physical activities that engage students and create an<br> enjoyable and positive atmosphere, contributing to a students’ willingness to remain active. Physical<br> education teachers should also make general awareness creation regarding the importance and benefits of<br> regular physical activities.