Physical Education teachers have a special role in the community but sometimes their fellow citizens may not be conscious of it. This paper is based on research which was conducted in order to study P.E. teachers' opinions about the relationship between social capital and their employment in the different sectors. Another objective of this article is to find out how P.E. teachers perceive themselves in relation to other occupations and whether they are satisfied with their position in the Cypriot labour market. The methods applied for this research were documentary analysis and survey method, but it is essential to remark that this paper is based on a larger investigation. Two sub-samples were created in order to compare their opinions towards the three objectives of this study. Results indicate that according to P.E. teachers; medical doctors have the highest prestige in Cyprus. They also believe that social capital has a great influence on their employment at the Cypriot Sport Organization but it is important to note that the majority of them are satisfied with their position in the labour market. This paper provides some evidence about the opinions and feelings of Cypriot P.E. teachers.
A few years ago, comparative research was conducted in thirty-five countries in order to discover the innovative and stimulating aspects of physical education (PE) found all over the world. Cyprus was not included in that special study. The present and future position of PE is a crucial and critical issue in Cyprus. Therefore the author of this paper has carried out an investigation with the aim of revealing the status of PE in the Cypriot educational system and comparing it with other countries. This paper was written on the basis of that research. The Cypriot investigation found in this paper uses the same concept and methods as were utilised in the aforementioned cross-cultural study; the results are presented according to similar dimensions. The data was collected by documentary analysis and in-depth interviews. The results indicate that the status of PE in Cyprus is low and there are urgent problems that need to be seriously considered by the authorities of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Efforts have already been made by decision-makers to promote the development of a new curriculum, be introduced in future school years.
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