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School-based Physical Education in Bhutan for Physical Fitness and Socio-emotional Competencies in Adolescents
Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
Summary
Despite global evidence supporting the benefits of PE in promoting socio-emotional skills, much of the research has focused on countries where PE is a mandatory part of the curriculum. In contrast, Bhutan's Health and Physical Education (HPE) program is limited, with many schools lacking a structured curriculum and dedicated PE educators. This project aims to evaluate the impact of an enhanced school-based physical education (PE) program on physical fitness, socio-emotional competencies, and well-being among upper primary school students in Bhutan. This project is a methodological collaboration between the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois in Switzerland and the Paro College of Education and Royal Thimphu College in Bhutan. Two public urban schools will be randomly assigned to either the "enhanced physical education program" or "standard curriculum" condition. An additional "control school", with no physical education, will be included in the study but not in the randomisation process for feasibility concern. A total of 360 young adolescents (120 per school, aged 12-14) will be enrolled. Baseline data on individual characteristics such as age, gender, and socio-economic status will be collected through self- and parent-reported questionnaires. Primary outcome measures include physical fitness assessed by PE teachers using various metrics, as well as socio-emotional competencies and well-being evaluated through standardised self- and parent-reported questionnaires. Data will be analysed using an intention-to-treat approach. This project offers a unique opportunity to explore the international impact of PE within Bhutan's socio-cultural context.
Official title: From Classrooms to Playgrounds in Bhutan: Evaluating the Role of School-based Physical Education on Physical Fitness, Socio-emotional Competencies and Well-being in Young Adolescents
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
12 Years - 14 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
360
Start Date
2025-02-10
Completion Date
2025-08-31
Last Updated
2025-02-11
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Enhanced physical education
The "Enhanced physical education" is based on the Health and Physical Education (HPE) Curriculum Framework developed by the Bhutanese Ministry of Education and well-document in the 2022 edition, www.education.gov.bt. The enhanced PE group will follow closely the description of the HPE curriculum and receive two 90-minute sessions weekly for 5 months. According to the HEP curriculum, the enhanced PE program incorporate both PE with socio-emotional competencies, such as self-regulation, self- and social-awareness, empathy-building exercises, and cooperation activities.
HPE Standard curriculum
Health and physical education (HPE) standard curriculum includes roughly one hour per week of general physical education, typically involving activities like football and basketball.
Locations (1)
Paro College of Education, Bhutan
Paro, Paro Dzongkhag, Bhutan