THE ATTITUDES OF SCHOOL TEACHERS IN SINGAPORE TO HEALTH EDUCATION

Abstract

This thesis is a study of Attitudes of School Teachers in Singapore to Health Education. The objectives of the thesis are:- i. To assess some of the attitudes school teachers in Singapore hold towards Health Education. ii. To provide baseline information for comparative purposes. iii. To suggest, if possible, lines of action in respect of Health Education in schools. Short accounts of Singapore, its population, and its Educational system are given, together with a brief roundup of Health Education in the Republic. A critical review of Health Education research with particular reference to research on Health Education in schools is undertaken. Materials and Methods are described in full. The study covered 1052 teachers from the four language stream schools in Singapore, namely English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. The participants were selected from the 565 schools included in the survey by ballot, using a formula that gave greater proportionate representation to small schools than to large. The questionnaire method was used. 1013 questionnaires were returned this giving a response rate of 96.3%. The general characteristics of the sample were defined, and included language stream, ethnic group, age, marital status, sex, teaching experience, school emplacement and academic qualification. The main analysis and interpretation was divided into six parts and the findings brought out clearly some attitudes of teachers, on which for years, there has been a great deal of speculation. Among other opinions and attitudes teachers felt strongly that school children need to be given Health Education, that Health Education given at present is insufficient, and that the subject should be introduced into the curriculum. They recognised the part they have to play in it and are ready to undergo teacher separation. Generally, they had no objection to Sex and Family Planning Education, but seemed to favour the introduction of Sex Education only into Secondary schools. view of:- The findings are discussed from the point of i. principle, ii. when personal involvement is required, iii. where cultural and ethnological factors may have had some influence on the responses. The various approaches made in analysis and interpretation of data are discussed, and the philosophic and academic basis to the analysis and interpretation are explained. Some of the difficulties associated with attitudinal research are ventilated. Finally, six practical recommendations are made.