Influence of Sports Participation on Educational Achievement of Students in Secondary Schools in Arusha District

Pipiyo Lomunyaki Mollel – Director, Shining Star Schools
Principal, Bishop Durning Teachers’ College
Dr. Kennedy Omondi Otieno – St. Augustine University of Tanzania, Arusha
Email: pllomunyaki@gmail.com/ omondiken2016@gmail.com

Abstract: The influence of sport participation on the academic achievement of students has been a topic of debate for decades. The study sought to evaluate the challenges facing students’ participation in sports activities and assess the effects of students’ participation in sports activities on their educational achievement in secondary schools in Arusha district. Green’s Model of Sport Development Theory guided the study. A convergent mixed methods design was adopted to collect both quantitative and qualitative data concurrently using questionnaires and interview guides respectively. The sample size were 81 form four students selected using stratified and simple random sampling technique while 6 school heads and 6 sport teachers and one DEO purposively selected. Validity was established through experts’ judgment whereas reliability test(r = 0.856) of the questionnaires was determined, after a pilot study through test re-test technique and results correlated at Cronbach Alpha coefficient. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically alongside research questions whereas quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables. Findings established that inadequate playing ground, high cost of sports and games materials, lack of interest in sports from students and lack of qualified personnel in coaching pose challenge to smooth running of sports programmes in schools. The study further found that sports improve students’ health, social, increase mental alertness and prepares students for future career. The study recommends that Ministry of Education should formulate good policies on sports, initiate sports academies, introduce games as a subject, provide physical facilities, train sport masters and mistresses as coaches.