Challenges across the professional career of the physical educator

Abstract

In most nations, physical education (PE) instruction is difficult to deliver (Hardman, 2008). These difficulties range from constrained curriculum time and a scarcity of teachers with the necessary training to inadequate facilities and a poor reputation among teachers, students, and parents (Nyakweba, 2005). According to Van Deventer (2006), the problem that PE is facing on a global scale has both a scientific and a political dimension, meaning that it has to do with both the politics surrounding the curriculum as it is produced and implemented in schools as well as its substance. Moreover, PE teachers face many problems during their career. Kul et al. (2018) state that the main problems affecting PE teachers' performance and motivation includes parents, facilities and equipment, curriculum, and students themselves. Other challenges are the increased number of students found in classes as well as school environments (Oudat, 2016). Whilst problems regarding the teaching sector in Malta are well documented, local research in regard to the challenges physical education teachers face throughout their career is lacking.