JAMB Physical and Health Education Syllabus 2027: Full Topics, Objectives and Recommended Textbooks

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Last updated: October, 2026.

Writing Physical and Health Education in the 2027 UTME? The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) syllabus tells you exactly what the examiners can ask, so you can focus on what counts instead of reading everything.

This page lists all 12 sections and 39 topics in the official JAMB Physical and Health Education syllabus, the skills you are expected to show on each one, and the textbooks JAMB recommends. You will also find a six-week study plan, sample questions and answers to frequently asked questions.

Quick Facts

• Exam: Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), computer-based
• Subject: Physical and Health Education (PHE)
• Syllabus sections: 12 (Sections A to L)
• Total topics: 39 main topics across the twelve sections
• Biggest section: Section B, Human Anatomy and Physiology in Relation to PHE (8 topics), followed by Section I, Corrective and Adapted Physical Education (5 topics)
• Source: Official JAMB syllabus

In This Guide

1. Aim and objectives of the syllabus
2. The twelve sections at a glance
3. Detailed syllabus (topics and what you should be able to do)
4. Recommended textbooks
5. Six-week study plan
6. Sample questions
7. Subject combinations
8. FAQs

Aim and Objectives

The aim of the UTME Physical and Health Education syllabus is to prepare candidates for the Board’s examination and test how well they have achieved the course objectives. Candidates are expected to:

• Acquire basic knowledge and practical skills in motor activities, fitness, body maintenance and self-awareness.
• Acquire the basic knowledge required to practise positive health habits and maintain health.
• Understand the relationship between human movement and the biological, physical and social sciences.
• Appreciate the ecological relationship between man and his environment, with a view to preventing the spread of diseases.
• Stimulate and sustain their interest in Physical and Health Education.

The Twelve Sections at a Glance

• Section A: Foundations and Principles of Physical and Health Education (2 topics)
• Section B: Human Anatomy and Physiology in Relation to PHE (8 topics)
• Section C: Theory and Practice of Sports and Games (3 topics)
• Section D: Food, Nutrition and Drugs (3 topics)
• Section E: Physical Fitness and Conditioning Programmes (2 topics)
• Section F: Recreation, Leisure and Dance (2 topics)
• Section G: First Aid and Safety Education (2 topics)
• Section H: National and International Sports Competitions (3 topics)
• Section I: Corrective and Adapted Physical Education Programme (5 topics)
• Section J: Personal, Community and Environmental Health (3 topics)
• Section K: Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases (3 topics)
• Section L: Family Life and Human Sexuality Education (3 topics)

Detailed Syllabus

Section A: Foundations and Principles of Physical and Health Education

1. Principles, Meaning, Scope and Philosophy of Physical Education
   • Definition, nature, scope and objectives of PE; the philosophy of the founding fathers of PE (Hetherington, Dudley Sargent, Thomas Wood and John Dewey); and the history and development of PE in ancient Greece (Sparta and Athens) and Rome, and in pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial Nigeria
   • You should be able to: state the meaning, nature, objectives and scope of PE, narrate the philosophy of the founding fathers, trace its history, and trace the ancient Greek festivals (Isthmian, Pythian, Nemean and Olympian).
2. Philosophy, Objectives and Settings of Health Education
   • Meaning, philosophy and objectives of health education; settings (home-based, school-based, community-based, health facility-based, workplace-based); and the meaning of health promotion
   • You should be able to: define health education, state its philosophy and objectives, and differentiate health promotion from health education.

Section B: Human Anatomy and Physiology in Relation to PHE

1. Cells, Tissues and Systems of the Human Body
   • Structure and functions of a typical human cell, types of cell and tissue (epithelial, connective, muscle, nerve), cell division and differentiation (mitosis and meiosis), and organs and systems of the body
2. Skeletal System
   • Axial and appendicular skeletons and their functions, bones and joints involved in movement (structure and types of bone and joint, movements at the joints)
3. Muscular System
   • Major muscles of the body and their functions, and isometric and isotonic contractions
4. Nervous System and Sense Organs
   • Structure and functions of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), types of nerve (voluntary and involuntary, simple reflex action), and the structure and functions of the sense organs (skin, nose, tongue, ear and eye)
5. Circulatory System
   • Structure and functions of the heart and vessels, composition and functions of blood, and systemic and pulmonary circulation
6. Respiratory System
   • Structure and functions of the nose, trachea and lungs, inspiration and expiration, and tissue and cellular respiration
7. Excretory System
   • Structure and functions of the kidney and skin, excretory functions of the lungs, and the formation of urine, sweat and carbon dioxide
8. Somatotypes and Posture
   • Endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph, the relationship between body types and physical activities, characteristics of correct posture, postural defects (flat foot, scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis), and their causes and corrective measures

Section C: Theory and Practice of Sports and Games

1. Athletics (Track and Field Events)
   • Track events: sprints (50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, hurdles and relays), sprint start styles (bullet or bunch, medium and elongated), visual and non-visual baton take-over and the take-over zone, flight over hurdles, middle distance races (800m and 1,500m) and long distance races (3,000m, 5,000m, 10,000m, marathon and cross-country), and rules, regulations and officiating
   • Field events: throwing (discus, javelin, shot put) and jumping (high jump, long jump, pole vault, triple jump), including facilities and equipment, styles and techniques, rules and officiating, and safety measures
2. Ball Games: Football and Basketball
   • Skills, facilities and equipment, and rules, regulations and officiating
3. Racket Games: Table Tennis and Badminton
   • Skills, specification of facilities and equipment, and rules, regulations and officiating

Section D: Food, Nutrition and Drugs

1. Food
   • Classes, sources and importance of food nutrients, definition and composition of a balanced diet, diet planning for different groups (children, adolescents, athletes, pregnant women and the aged), and food preservation, hygiene and storage
2. Nutrition
   • Definition and nutritional values of beverages, common nutritional deficiencies and their remedies, and the importance of water in human nutrition
3. Drugs
   • Meaning and types (stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, sedatives and ergogenic aids), use, misuse and abuse, causes and prevention of drug misuse and abuse, and the effects of drug misuse, abuse and self-medication on the body

Section E: Physical Fitness and Conditioning Programmes

1. Physical Fitness
   • Definition, components (health-related and performance or skill-related) and benefits of physical activity and exercise
2. Conditioning Programme
   • Aerobic, anaerobic, strength training and endurance training programmes

Section F: Recreation, Leisure and Dance

1. Recreation and Leisure
   • Definition and importance of recreation, leisure, work and rest; types of recreational activities (outdoor: jogging, swimming, cycling, bird watching, hiking, camping, picnicking; indoor: TV, video games, computer games, musical instruments, billiards, card games, ayo, draught); and the differences between recreational activities and competitive sports
2. Dance
   • Definition and importance of dance, traditional dances and dance steps from various parts of Nigeria, and their costumes

Section G: First Aid and Safety Education

1. First Aid
   • Definition, aims and principles, qualities of a first aider, the first aid box and its contents, common injuries (cuts, wounds, sprains, strains, dislocation, fracture), special conditions (bleeding, burns, scalds, shock, poisoning), and the agencies involved (St. John’s Ambulance and the Red Cross Society)
2. Safety Education
   • Meaning and types of accident and disaster, causes and prevention, disaster relief activities, and safety at home, the workplace, school and the community

Section H: National and International Sports Competitions

1. Sports Competitions at National Level
   • National competitions organised by sports federations and associations, and by corporate organisations; the importance of the National Sports Festival; and the organisation and administration of sports competitions
2. Names and Roles of Institutional Games
   • The University Games (NUGA), the Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA), the Colleges of Education Games (NATCEGA) and the National School Sports Games (NSSF)
3. International Sports Competitions and Governing Bodies
   • The history, evolution and aims of the All Africa Games, and the names and administrative structure of international governing bodies (SCSA, IOC, FIFA, IAAF, ISSF, FIBA, ITTF and BWF)

Section I: Corrective and Adapted Physical Education Programme

1. Meaning and Types of Disability and Special Needs
2. Adapted Physical Activities for People with Disabilities and Special Needs
3. Social and Emotional Problems of People with Special Needs
4. Prevention of Disability
5. Corrective Exercises to Rehabilitate People with Special Needs
   • You should be able to: define disability, identify the types of disability and special needs, identify suitable physical activities, state the social and emotional problems and preventive measures, and state corrective exercises.

Section J: Personal, Community and Environmental Health

1. Personal Health
   • Meaning and importance, personal hygiene (teeth, mouth, hair, skin, hands, nails), promoting and maintaining personal health (exercise, nutrition, regular medical check-ups), and personal health screening for eye defects (myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism), auditory defects (otitis media, partial deafness) and dental diseases (dental caries, gingivitis)
2. Community Health
   • Orthodox and traditional health services (bone setters, birth attendants), family health (maternal and child health, ante-natal care, immunization, oral rehydration therapy, breast feeding, safe motherhood), and aging and death education (characteristics of elderly persons, ways of relating with them, common causes of death)
3. Environmental Health
   • Housing (location, ventilation, lighting, sanitation, town planning regulations), water supply (importance, sources, purification), waste disposal (refuse and sewage), pollution (air, water, soil, noise, prevention and control), and pest and vector control

Section K: Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases

1. Disease: Meaning and Causes
2. Communicable Diseases
   • Air-borne and respiratory (measles, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, cerebrospinal meningitis), water and food-borne (dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever), insect-borne (malaria, yellow fever, trypanosomiasis), worm infections (tapeworm, hookworm, guinea worm), animal-borne (rabies, leptospirosis), contact diseases (gonorrhoea, syphilis, ringworm, leprosy, AIDS), and prevention and control (immunization, sterilization, isolation)
3. Non-communicable Diseases
   • Definition, and diseases such as hypertension, sickle cell, cancer, epilepsy, ulcer, asthma and diabetes, with their prevention and control

Section L: Family Life and Human Sexuality Education

1. Family
   • Definition and types (nuclear: monogamous, polygamous, single parent, family by adoption; and extended) and the characteristics of a happy family
2. Human Sexuality Education
   • Meaning and importance, and reproductive health rights (number of children, consent to marry, gender equality and privacy)
3. Family Planning
   • Definition and importance, advantages and disadvantages of the methods (condom, pills, intrauterine device, abstinence), challenges of families in Nigeria (pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, widowhood), and agencies promoting healthy family living (school, NGOs, religious homes)

Recommended Textbooks

JAMB lists these texts for Physical and Health Education:

• Afuekwe, A. I. (2007). An Introductory Textbook of Physical Education for Secondary Schools and Colleges, Vol. 1. Sales Point (Nig.) Co.
• Afuekwe, A. I. (2009). Health Topics in the New Curriculum of Physical and Health Education, Vol. 1. Seas Print (Nig.) Co.
• Nnabueze, U. C. (2002). Foundation of Health and Physical Education for Schools, Vol. II. Enugu: Okotech Publishers.
• Ofadeji, A. A. (2013). Comprehensive Textbook on Physical and Health Education.
• Oworu, O. O. (2004). Fundamentals of Physical Education. Lucky Odoni (Nig.) Enterprises.
• Oyerinde, O. O., Dada, J. O. and Oloyede, R. O. (2021). A Textbook of Physical and Health Education for Secondary School in Contemporary Nigeria Education System (4th Edition). Ibadan: Fabonish Publisher, Positive Press.
• Oyerinde, O. O., Dada, J. O. and Oloyede, R. O. (2021). All Times Health Education for Individual and College Student (4th Edition). Fabonish Publisher, Bayero University Press.
• Puffa, H. A., Agbeko, W. W. and Amui, J. C. (2009). Foundations of Physical Education and Sports. Winneba, Ghana: Akwu.

Six-Week Study Plan

• Week 1: Sections A and B. Learn the history and philosophy of PE, then the body systems.
• Week 2: Section C. Study the track and field events, football, basketball, table tennis and badminton, with their rules, equipment and officials.
• Week 3: Sections D, E and F (food, nutrition, drugs, fitness, recreation and dance).
• Week 4: Sections G, H and I (first aid, safety, sports competitions and adapted physical education).
• Week 5: Sections J, K and L (personal, community and environmental health, diseases, and family life).
• Week 6: Revise weak topics and practise past questions under timed conditions.

Tips:

• Make tables for communicable diseases by cause and type (air-borne, water-borne, insect-borne and so on), and for the sports with their facilities, equipment and officials.
• Draw and label the heart, the skeleton, the kidney and the sense organs.
• Learn the abbreviations: IOC, FIFA, FIBA, IAAF, ITTF, BWF, NUGA, NIPOGA and NATCEGA.
• Learn the first aid steps for each injury, and the contents of the first aid box.
• Use the syllabus objectives as a checklist. If you cannot do what an objective says, you are not ready on that topic.

Sample Questions

1. Which of the following is a track event? A. 100m sprint B. Discus C. Javelin D. Long jump Answer: A
2. The body system that includes the heart and blood vessels is the A. circulatory system B. respiratory system C. excretory system D. skeletal system Answer: A
3. Which of the following is a non-communicable disease? A. Cholera B. Diabetes C. Malaria D. Measles Answer: B
4. A person with a muscular, athletic build is a(n) A. endomorph B. mesomorph C. ectomorph D. lordotic Answer: B
5. The international governing body for football is A. IOC B. FIFA C. FIBA D. IAAF Answer: B

Subject Combinations

Physical and Health Education is commonly required for courses such as Physical and Health Education, Human Kinetics, Sports Science, Health Education and related Education courses. Always check your chosen course and university in the JAMB brochure for the exact combination.

Related: JAMB Subject Combination for Education Students | JAMB Brochure | JAMB Recommended Textbooks for All Subjects | JAMB UTME Registration Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the JAMB Physical and Health Education syllabus?

It is the official JAMB document that lists the sections, topics and learning objectives candidates must cover for Physical and Health Education in the UTME.

How many sections are in the syllabus?

Twelve, labelled A to L, from Foundations and Principles to Family Life and Human Sexuality Education.

How many topics are in the syllabus?

Thirty-nine main topics.

Does the syllabus include sports rules?

Yes. Section C covers the skills, facilities, equipment, rules and officiating for athletics, football, basketball, table tennis and badminton.

Does the syllabus cover health topics?

Yes. Sections D, G, J, K and L cover nutrition, drugs, first aid, personal and environmental health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and family life.

Where can I get past questions for Physical and Health Education?

Click here

Check Other JAMB Subject Syllabuses

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