Influence of Curriculum Adaptation on Effective Implementation of Physical Education Programs in Nigeria’s Special Schools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026545Keywords:
Curriculum adaptation, Adapted Physical Education (APE), Special schools, Programme implementation,Abstract
This study investigated curriculum adaptation as a determinant of effective implementation of Physical Education (PE) programmes in Nigeria’s special schools. A survey research design was adopted. The study population consisted of 1,177 special schools in Nigeria, comprising 2,354 administrators and 1,177 Physical Education teachers. Using multi-stage sampling, 390 respondents were selected. Data were collected through a validated, self-developed questionnaire with a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.824). Chi-square (χ²) statistics was used to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that curriculum adaptation significantly determines the effective implementation of PE programmes in Nigeria’s special schools (χ² = 119.13, df = 27, p = 0.000). The study concludes that curriculum adaptation is a critical driver of successful PE implementation, enhancing inclusivity, motor skill acquisition, and psychosocial learning outcomes among students with disabilities. It is recommended that the Federal and State Ministries of Education redesign adaptive PE curricula, mandate continuous professional development for teachers on inclusive instructional strategies, and allocate dedicated funding for adaptive sports equipment.
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