Attitudes of physical education personnel towards the participation of the hearing impaired in competitive school sports in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study is about the attitudes of Physical Education Personnel towards the participation of the hearing impaired in competitive school sports in the Central Region of Ghana. The methodology, which was qualitative, involved the use of interview and document scrutiny for data collection. In all a sample of twelve (12) respondents, involving the Regional Physical Education coordinator, District Physical Education coordinators, sports teachers for the Schools for the Deaf and Physical Education teachers in the Central Region were interviewed. Analysis of the data revealed that Physical Education personnel agree to the participation of the hearing impaired in competitive school sports, even though these personnel lack background experience in teaching the hearing impaired. Among various recommendations made were: Physical Education teachers should be give orientation or in-service training in methodologies of teaching the hearing impaired. Also sports teachers for the schools for the hearing impaired should be encouraged to undertake courses in Physical Education since they are potential support teacher for the Physical Education personnel.