The social quality of school physical education in Flanders

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study evaluating the social quality of school physical education in Flanders. Drawing on a nine-question survey, it explores the expectations and experiences of 124 respondents from different social, educational and workforce agencies and organisations with regard to important objectives of high quality school physical education. It also considers the overlap between the expectations of the research sample and the current course-specific final attainment levels of school physical education. The data show that the contents of the current final attainment levels of school physical education, as determined by the Flemish Educational Government, largely correspond to the expectations of the research sample. The majority of the respondents considered the development of a fit and healthy lifestyle in particular as an important objective of school physical education. Other important objectives included the development of social and/or motor skills and the compensation for sitting still during theoretical lessons. Finally, more than half of all respondents indicated that most of their expectations, in relation to the major objectives of school physical education, were seldom attained.