Gender and acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils

Gender and acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils in Etinan Local Government Area

 

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the Study
Gender is a natural status of male and female. Kever (2001) defined it as a cultural construction that distinguishes the roles, behaviour, mental and emotional characteristics between males and females’ development by the society.

Psychologically, Okoro (2002) described pupils’ gender in primary schools to encompass male and female adolescents which a prospective teacher would meet during classroom instruction. Their chronological age spans in years is between six and twelve. The issue of gender is therefore a crucial factor in the overall learning and acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils.

Presently, gender differences have become necessary on the hot list of critical issues around the world. Researchers believe that behavioral responses of children are through motions and muscles, and children can understand themselves and the world around through these behavioral movements; these motor experiences will build their learning infrastructure (Baranek, 2002).

On the other hand, motor skills play an important role in children’s learning, and improve the growth of the other important learning skills such as educational and social ones. Hence, any disorder in the motor skills procedures causes weaknesses and problems in the learning, and acquisition of personal skills in children (Nazi, Rahbar and Kanimi, 2007).

Hasanati (2010) has categorized motor skills into two groups: Fine motor skills including directional, separate, precise and skills movements which small and fine muscles need to do. Also, gross motor skills performed by large muscles cause general movements, stability, and balance.
Critically, knowing learning process will assist teachers to know the best or other alternative strategies to aid in teaching pupils.

The teacher will come to understand individual differences among his/her learners. He can then adopt and use various strategies to teach them; it is known that it is a known fact that learners differ in terms of gender and characteristics, but teachers still ignorantly seems to treat pupils as if they are all alike (Friedman, 2005).

However, although no specific age has been introduced for the development of children motor skills, most of the researchers believe that children mostly gain advanced levels of these skills in pre-school years or at the age of six.

The influence of sex (gender) on the development and acquisitions of skills has also been an issue of concern to most researchers. This is because “gender” appears to have some powerful effects on learning and acquisition of skills.

However, studies by Friedman (2005) suggested no significance difference in cognitive ability between males and females. It was based on this issue that the study was conducted to investigate low gender influences the acquisition of motor skills among primary schools pupils in Etinan Local Government Area.

Gender and acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils

1.2 Statement of the Problem
The major problem in this study is the acquisition of motor skills among male and female learners in primary schools. Researchers believe that motor and longitude skills of male and female learners are associated. This is because proper planning and programming for motor skill during childhood, especially before entering school, may transform their evolutionary process. If all personal growth aspects are considered in per-school training, they play a more effective role in the growth and development of children.

Also, it is a known fact that development in basic motor skills in pupils, is considered as a part of pupil’s training in schools.

Evaluation of motor skills in both genders of pupils and clearer distinction of fine and gross motor skills aid educational authorities to find the weak and strong points and provide targeted programmes more than ever. Be that as it may, the effect of gender on pupils’ acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils in Etinan Local Government Area is the problem to be investigated in this study.

1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to examine the influence of gender on acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils in Etinan Local Government Area.

In specific terms, the objectives of the study were:
To find out how male pupils acquire motor skills in primary schools.

To investigate how female pupils acquire motor skills in primary schools.

1.4  Significance of the Study
The study of gender and acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils will provide adequate information on the relevance of positive teachers’ strategy classroom instruction. It will adjust and put on those characters that will positively affect pupil’s acquisition of motor skills. The findings of this study will also help educational authorities to find out the weak and strong points and equally provide targeted programmes more than ever that will help in the evaluation of motor skills in both genders of pupils.
Teachers in our per-primary schools would see the need to have good manners, good behavior, teaching qualification and select suitable teaching methods for their lessons that will help pupils to acquire their motor skills. The findings from the study will serve as a reference material to other researchers in the future.

Impact of Gender on acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils

1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide the researcher in the study:
To what extent does male gender influence acquisition of motor skills in primary schools?
How does female gender influence acquisition of motor skills in primary schools?

1.6  Delimitation of the Study
The research work is restricted to the study of gender and acquisition of motor skills among primary school pupils in Etinan Local Government Area.

 

1.7 Limitation of the Study
The research is limited only to specific primary schools in Etinan Local Government Area. The limitations had to do with financial constraints which made the researcher unable to study all or a greater number of primary schools in the study area.

Another constraint was time; both the teachers and pupils were busy with serious academic activities which demanded their attention.
Finally, the study is limited to only four (4) selected primary schools in the area under study due to transportation difficulties.

1.8 Definition of Terms
Gender: This refers to the classification of individual into either male or female
Acquisition: This is the act of getting new knowledge and skills through learning and observation.
Motor Skills: These are different ways of using one muscle to produce movement of a part of the body.
Pupils: This principally used to describe individual or person who undergoes studies in primary school.