…Proprietors disregard psychomotor domain
…As 70% of private schools lack playground facilities in Lagos, others
All work and no play, they say, makes Jack a dull boy. Today, pupils are holed-up in tight accommodations that act as school premises, unlike in the past when school children had an expanse of playgrounds to exercise themselves during break hours.
This is rampant with private schools where proprietors are just interested in classroom teaching and learning. This is contrary to Benjamin Bloom’s taxonomy of three domains of learning- the cognitive domain, the affective domain and the psychomotor domain. In what is going on today, the psychomotor domain is not part of it.
This is contrary to the Lagos State education law which stipulates that a school should have a multipurpose field of at least 100 meters away from the classroom which should be adequately equipped with games and sport facilities, and indoor games for recreation inclusive.
Besides, having playgrounds without facilities is not enough; playground facilities are expected to be adequate in terms of number and quality.
Research shows playgrounds provide a recreational refuge for children and help their cognitive, psychosocial, and physical coordination skills development.
According to a National Institute of Health report, “Schools lacking playgrounds can negatively impact children’s physical and mental health, social skills, and overall development, leading to increased screen time, reduced physical activity, and potentially hindering social interaction and emotional regulation.”
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Why playgrounds in schools?
Gloria Akinsola, a teacher shared her experience growing up, “My growing up was fun and exciting because I had the privilege to play during break at school and after completion of my house chores at home which has helped my self-awareness, self-motivation and appreciation.”
Akinsola said that play has always been a vital part of human existence because through play children gain socio-emotional skills, leadership skills, time management and mental alertness.
She reiterated that playgrounds help children reduce stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem, and develop social skills, among others.
“Playgrounds provide a safe space for children to express themselves, socialize, and manage stress. Without playgrounds, children may experience increased stress and anxiety.
“Playgrounds provide opportunities for children to take risks, challenge themselves, and develop a sense of accomplishment. Without these experiences, children may experience decreased self-esteem.
“Playgrounds foster social interactions, teamwork, and conflict resolution. Without these opportunities, children may struggle with social skills and relationships.”
Reasons many schools lack playgrounds
Isaiah Ogundele, an educationist said that about 70 percent of private schools in Lagos and other towns and villages do not consider space as part of the criterion that must be met before a school can be established or approved by the government, due to high cost of lands.
“It is not easy to acquire a vast land that would be spacious enough to accommodate the three major domains of learning. Besides, lack of funds or family position about the sales of landed property which they considered as an inheritance that must not be sold is an issue,” he said.
Similarly, Blessing Ema, a senior teacher at LUDENAR Academy, Port Harcourt, decried the unhealthy synerio which she blamed on the surging lack of lands and the concomitant high costs that limits school owners’ quest for playgrounds.
Implication of schools not having playgrounds
Playgrounds are crucial for providing opportunities for physical activity, which is essential for children’s physical health and combating childhood obesity.
Experts maintain that when children do not have enough play space it could lead to increased screen time and reduced social interaction.
“Without structured outdoor play, children may turn to screens for entertainment, leading to increased screen time and reduced opportunities for face-to-face interaction with peers,” they say.
Ogundele said that children attending a school without a playground has serious implications in moulding a total child as according to him such a school cannot bring out the best of the child because academics cannot stand alone without other necessary things that bring out the best in every child.
“Building schools without sports facilities is like training a set of imbalanced or half-baked students. Unknowingly to them, they are killing talents directly or indirectly.
Any school without an adequate playground is like a bird flying with one wing, such a school will be focusing on academics only at the expense of the other two wings of education,” he said.
Ema, maintained that building a total child goes beyond academics, she said, “if a child does not have space to play, he or she becomes restless, and that is not good for their health.”
Government-school partnership
To address the negative effects of having children in schools without playgrounds, the government should consider a scheme for subsiding playground facilities, and/or building such for schools.
