School Physical Learning Environment and the Psychomotor Development of Preschoolers in Early Childhood Education Centres in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between the school's physical learning environment and the psychomotor development of preschoolers in Early Childhood Education Centres in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State. Three specific objectives are as follows: To determine the extent to which classroom arrangement relates to preschooler's psychomotor development in public early childhood centres in Rivers  East Senatorial District, to determine the extent to which playgrounds in the school physical environment relate to the preschooler's psychomotor development in public early childhood education centres in Rivers East Senatorial District and to determine the extent to which school facilities relates to preschooler's psychomotor development in early childhood education centers in Rivers East Senatorial District. The study employed a correlational research design. The study population was 3,102 preschool children, out of which 620 were sampled using cluster and simple random sampling techniques. The researcher designed a “School Physical Environment and Preschoolers’ Psychomotor Development Questionnaire (SPEPPDQ)” questionnaire for data collection. Data was analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between classroom arrangement and preschooler’s psychomotor development in public early childhood education centres in Rivers East Senatorial District in Rivers State; there is a significant relationship between the playground and preschooler’s psychomotor development in public early childhood education centres in Rivers East Senatorial District in Rivers State; there is a significant relationship between the school facilities and preschooler’s psychomotor development in public early childhood education centres in Rivers East Senatorial District in Rivers State. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made which include that the government through the MOE needs to make proper and adequate provision of facilities according to the developmental stages of children that will enhance the overall development of the children in public early childhood centers.