Abstract
Physical education, as an integral part of compulsory education, plays a significant role in promoting and improving the physical activity of children and youth. Having regard to the changes occurred in some segments of physical education, during the period of the full state sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia, the analysis included the following: legal framework and adopted documents, PE curriculum and program, physical education teaching conditions, educational standards, teaching staff, physical education exemptions and research in the field of physical education. The importance of physical education, which has been recognized in the legal framework, by the recommendations contained in the adopted regulations and measures, has not been implemented or practically applied. In this sense, an increased number of PE classes and uniform conditions for physical education teaching at the state level, i.e. throughout the country, should be set as a priority. The emphasis which has moved away from the curriculum and learning content towards the learning process and its outcomes, introduction of the mandatory monitoring, evaluating and recording of pupils' physical abilities and allowing pupils to be exempted only from a practical part of the PE course with an obligation to attend PE classes represent significant novelties within the subject bearing a new name (Physical and Health Education). It is necessary to assess the achievement level of educational standards, i.e. to examine the extent to which pupils have acquired knowledge and skills and developed their motor abilities upon completion of their compulsory education. Mandatory professional development of PE teachers aimed at acquiring new competences and strengthening the existing ones is important for the improvement of educational work. The research results have indicated that it is necessary to continuously monitor the prevalence of obesity and level of physical activity and motor abilities in pupils at the national level, as well as to promote healthy eating habits and encourage children to engage in physical activity and exercise.
Highlights
School is the most important institution in promoting and improving the physical activity of children and young people (McBride and Midford 1999; Cardon and Bourdeaudhuij 2002), and physical education plays a key role in this process (Shephard and Trudeau 2000)
As a school subject, has an extended role and special responsibility, which is reflected by the fact that the content of Physical Education (PE) course deals with many contemporary issues in the educational process in addition to the characteristics that cannot be provided by any other school subject or learning content (Hardman, 2009)
The importance of physical education has been recognized in the legal framework, by the recommendations contained in the adopted regulations and measures, they have not been implemented or practically applied to a greater extent
Summary
School is the most important institution in promoting and improving the physical activity of children and young people (McBride and Midford 1999; Cardon and Bourdeaudhuij 2002), and physical education plays a key role in this process (Shephard and Trudeau 2000). The results of the research conducted under the Active youth healthier life: Health, lifestyles and physical fitness of young people project that included 2,814 secondary school pupils in the territory of the city of Belgrade, aged 15 to 18 years, and which lasted for 6 months (August - December 2015), have indicated an inadequate level of physical fitness associated with health (60% of the male pupils and even 87% of the female ones were found to be below the recommended values), daily physical activity (56% of the male pupils and even 75% of the female pupils did not meet the minimum volume recommended). Regarding the healthy lifestyle behaviors represented among the secondary school pupils, quite disturbing findings have been obtained, indicating that only 2% of the male pupils and less than 1% of the female ones demonstrated a preferred lifestyle which, according to this study, implied that a pupil meets the minimum standards in terms of physical fitness, daily physical activity, nutrition, fruit and vegetable intake and over-salting (Guide to the Physical Activity and Nutrition of Youth, 2016)
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