Sports’ Participation and Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5039Abstract
The participation of students in various sport activities enhances the students’ learning activities which could significantly affect the school academic performance. The purpose of this study was therefore to analyze the relationship between sports’ participation and students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Kicukiro district in Rwanda. The study employed correlation research design. The target population was 5377 respondents while the sample size was 372 respondents obtained by using Yamane formula. The data was collected using questionnaires, interview guides and document analysis. The findings revealed that sports participation in public secondary schools of Kicukiro District is at a low level. The study also found students’ academic performance is poor in all the four academic performance indicators: classroom grades, completion rate, retention rate and national examination results. It was found there is a statistical and significant relationship between sports’ participation and students’ academic performance in public secondary schools of Kicukiro District with the P-value of .000 and Pearson Coefficient of Correlation of .887. It was also found the value of Adjusted R Square was .785 an indication that 78.5% of the variation in students’ academic performance can be explained by sports’ participation (regular sports activities organization, encouragement to participate in sports activities, enough time for sports activities, availability of qualified sports facilitators and adequate sports facilities). This also explains that the remaining 21.4% of academic performance can be affected by other variables. The study recommended that MINEDUC through Rwanda Basic Education Board to avail enough sports’ amenities that will facilitate sports’ participation in all schools across the countries. All stakeholders of education sector are recommended to support sports’ participation among students and educators in Rwanda, as it is the only and one shortcut for improving students’ academic performance.
Keywords: Sport participation, academic performance and secondary schools
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