Ukraine Physical Education Curriculum (Grades 5-9)

This curriculum, introduced in 2009, is based on the principle of variability and aims to provide students with a more engaging and personalized learning experience. It allows students to choose among modules representing different kinds of sports, taking into consideration their interests and preferences. The curriculum is divided into two parts:

• Invariant Component: This mandatory component includes theoretical and methodological knowledge and general physical fitness development. It is incorporated into every lesson and is not subject to selection.
• Variable Component: This component consists of variable modules representing different sports. Students, in consultation with their teachers, can choose which modules to focus on based on factors such as available resources, school traditions, teacher expertise, and student interest. Each sport can be represented as a variable module. Student preferences are gathered through written questionnaires.

Implementation and Challenges:

A study conducted in the Lviv region of Ukraine examined the implementation of this curriculum and highlighted some challenges:

• Material and Technical Supplies: A significant obstacle to implementing the variable component is the lack of adequate sports equipment and facilities in many schools. For example, while many students express interest in swimming, table tennis, and badminton, the necessary resources are often unavailable.
• Gym Availability: Limited gym availability and busy schedules also hinder the effective implementation of the variable modules.
• Teacher Conservatism: Some teachers prefer to rely on their own experience rather than fully embracing the new curriculum.
• Mismatched Interests and Implementation: In practice, the implemented variable modules often reflect the available resources rather than student interests. Commonly implemented modules include volleyball, basketball, football, track and field, and gymnastics.

Assessment:

The curriculum features an innovative assessment approach that encourages student progress and participation:

• Bonus Points System: This system rewards students for personal achievement dynamics, active participation in lessons, involvement in sports outside of school, and performance in school sports events. These bonus points can improve a student's grade.

Effectiveness:

An educational experiment comparing the variable modules curriculum with the previous curriculum demonstrated that the new curriculum is more effective in developing physical qualities such as speed, flexibility, strength, endurance, and force-velocity qualities. The study showed significant improvements in these qualities among students in the experimental groups compared to the control group.