THE READINESS OF PROSPECTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS TOWARDS UPGRADING THE TEACHING PROFESSIONALISM

This study aims to determine the significant differences in terms of preparedness of health based physical fitness and the mastery levels of subject content in physical education among trainee or prospective teachers in Teacher Education Institutions (IPG) based on gender. The sample size is 300 people from nine IPGs which have the right to offer Physical Education major programs by the Teachers Education Institute Malaysia (IPGM). The respondents are 151 prospective male and 149 female teachers. The methodology is by using the ex- post facto' static group comparison using the "Prudential FITNESSGRAM®" battery. The descriptive analysis showed the readiness in terms of health based physical fitness and the mastery of the subject content is satisfactory and increased at every level. Inferential analysis of overall readiness in the level of physical fitness based on gender showed significant differences, where t (298) = 22 940, p = 0.000 (p