INVESTIGATING HOW PHYSICAL EDUCATION LINKS TO OTHER SCHOOL SUBJECTS AND CROSS-CURRICULAR ISSUES IN SCHOOLS WITHIN KATIMA MULILO, ZAMBEZI REGION IN NAMIBIA

Abstract

Cross-curricular teaching is the use of numerous theoretical disciplines during each class session. This teaching technique works on learners’ soft skills, increases engagement, and helps increase learner retention rates. It appears that most physical education teachers integrate these cross-curricular issues in their physical education class sessions. The main aim of this study was to investigate how physical education links to other school subjects and Cross-Curricular Issues in schools within Katima Mulilo, Namibia. This study adopted a qualitative approach to explore required data to close the existing gap within the phenomenon. A total of thirty five (35) physical education teachers from were purposively selected to be part of this study. Data was collected using questionnaires and analysed thematically. The study findings revealed that physical education linked to other school subjects and cross-curricular issues in schools such as; environmental learning, population education, HIV/AIDS, education for human rights and democracy, information and communication technology and road safety. Moreover, the findings further links other subjects to physical education such as; mathematics and sciences, languages, discovery of cultures and history, health issues and nutrition. It is therefore to be concluded from this study that, the integration of numerous cross-curricula issues in physical education increase involvement and engagement of learners in multiple subjects at once, it sanctions learners to think innovatively, it helps with actual world problem solving and critical thinking abilities, by collaborating and blending educational subjects together, learners can combine anything they are passionate about with anything they are not.