The Challenges of the National Physical Education Leader’s Qualifications Framework in Korea: Focus on Improving Qualifications Framework and Revising the Written Examination Subjects

Abstract

[OBJECTIVES] The aim of this study is to examine and underline the problems regarding the issue in the National Physical Education Leader’s qualification framework which revised in 2015 and provide guidelines for developing a new qualifications framework and revising the written examination subjects. [METHODS] To Implement an integrated qualifications framework, it’s important to make a decision after listening to various opinions such as the number of levels to be changed, the qualification requirements (testing qualifications) after changing the level system, the academic settings/level of sports, the eligibility requirements between levels. For the structure of the qualification framework integration, integrating it into the two-level or three- level system has the greater advantage in various aspects and it may minimize controversy. [CONCLUSIONS] The qualification framework should be integrated into the two-level or three-level system, and the selection of the written examination subjects should be revised. To consider the sequence of the courses and learning contents for the National Physical Education Leader qualifications, the following written examination subjects should be included as the compulsory subjects for the three-level, twolevel, or one-level systems respectively: exercise physiology, exercise mechanics, sports psychology, and health education; physical education measurement and evaluation, health and fitness evaluation, exercise prescription, and pathophysiology; and prevention and treatment of sports injuries and training theory. One of the innovative strategies to improve the current exam contents, the following written examination subjects should be eliminated such as sports education, sports ethics, Korean sports history, and sports sociology or significantly reduce the number of questions to be asked. Another strategy is to determine the eligibility qualifications according to standard guidelines on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for each job area by subject and position according to the qualification system, such as the secondary education teachers exam or the certified nutritionist certification exam, and select exam contents and numbers of the question in each subject according to the essential knowledge and skills. It is also worth considering the question of different ratios.