Il ruolo dell’educazione fisica nella promozione della salute: uno studio multicentrico

Objectives: to point out weaknesses and strengths of Physical Education (PE) in the Italian school system on the basis of the students’ opinions. Methods: an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire regarding experiences and opinions about PE learned in the last two years of secondary school was distributed to a sample of freshmen from 14 Italian prouniversities. Differences among groups coming from North, Center and South regions of Italy were also analyzed. Results: for 42,2% of the 7.033 participants the principal aim pursued during PE lessons was mainly recreation. More than the half of the students (62,2%) reported none or modest influence of PE on current personal Physical Activity (PA) practice. 67,2% of the sample is satisfied of PE received, mainly in Northern regions. Discussion and conclusions: there is a need to enhance PE teaching in the Italian school through an increase of time allocated to PE lessons and through their assignment to well-trained teachers.