Sports’ Participation and Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Rwanda

Authors

  • Mukayiranga Regine Mount Kenya University
  • Hesbon Opiyo Andala Mount Kenya University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5039

Abstract

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

Author Biographies

Mukayiranga Regine, Mount Kenya University

Post graduate student, Mount Kenya University, Rwanda

Hesbon Opiyo Andala, Mount Kenya University

Lecturer and research coordinator, school of education, Mount Kenya University, Rwanda

References

Alabi, T. (2011). Curbing Examination Malpractice in the University system:A Management Perspective. Education Research Journal, 14 (2) 30-43.

Asiabaka, F. (2008). A Learning Environment- A Euphemism for Instruction or a Potential for Dialogue. International Journal of Educational Research, 14(12): 625-632.

Bailey, R.P. (2013). Evaluating the Relationship between Physical Education, Sport and Social Inclusion. Educational Review, 56(3), 71-90. https://doi.org/10.1080/0013191042000274196

Calhoun, C. (2017). Nations Matter: Culture, History and the Cosmopolitan Dream. London: Routledge. Carlin (2013). "Rwanda's magic moment". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2015-04-15. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

Cassie (2017). 10 Ways to Improve Student Concentration. Teaching Ideas. Retrieved from https://teach.com/blog/seven-in-class-activities-to-improve-concentration-in-children/

Choi, H. S., Johnson, B., & Kim, Y. K. (2014). Children’s development through sports competition: Derivative, adjustive, generative, and maladaptive approaches. Quest, 66(2), 191-202. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2013.861757

Collins, M. (2013). Constraints on and Benefits of Playing Sport. In M. Collins & T.Kay (Eds), Sport and Social Exclusion (pp. 24-33). London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203859728

Curry, C (2012). Physical education and the after-school sports program in Australian schools: barriers and challenges for the new century.

Duryea, Suzanne, Jasper H., David L. & Deborah L. (2013). “Dynamics of child labour: Labor force entry and exit in urban Brazil”, in Orazem et al., Child Labor in Latin America. World Bank, forthcoming.

Erin, K., & Russel, R. (2012). Physical Activity and Academic Achievement in Children: A Historical Perspective. Shanghai: Shanghai University of Sport.

George, G. (2008). An Anthropologist on the Team: Studying Baseball as a Former Player. Anthropology Today (London), p 10. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8322.2008.00612.x

Gourevitch, P. (2012). "From Rwanda to London, with a Bicycle". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 2015-04-12. Retrieved 8 April2015.

Guttmann, A. (2012). The Olympics: A History of the Modern Game. Columbia University Press.

Hardman, K. (2012). The state and status of physical education in schools in international context. European Physical Education Review, 6(3), 203-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X000063001

Hilvoorde, I., Agnes, E., & Ruud, S. (2010). “How to Influence National Pride? The Olympic Medal Index as a Unifying Narrative.” International Review for the Sociology of Sport 45(1):87–102. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690209356989

John, N. (2017). Sport, Cultures, and Identities in South Africa. Books.google.co.uk. p. 115.

Jonker, L., Elferink‐Gemser, M. T., & Visscher, C. (2009). Talented athletes and academic achievements: A comparison over 14 years. High Ability Studies, 20(1), 55-64. https://doi.org/10.1080/13598130902863691

MacKendrick, M. (2011). Active living + quality daily physical education = the perfect solution. The Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Journal, 62(1), 2.

Marshall, J.J. (2018). Worldwide survey of the state and status of school. European Physical Education Review, 6(3), 203-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X000063001

Ministry of Education (2016). 2015 Education Statistical Yearbook. Kigali.

Mozafari S. (2012). A study of attitudes of people toward sport and physical activities in Iran. Unpublished research project, Tarbiat Moallem University.

Ndengeye (2015). Sport and Development Policy in Africa: Results of a Collaborative Study of Selected Country Cases.

NISR (2019). National Unemployment Rate: New Survey. Kigali.

Njororai, W. W. S. (2016). Availability of physical education learning resources in selected secondary schools in Uasin Gishu District, Kenya. Journal of Eastern African Research and Development, 25: 161-170.

Sagatun, A. (2017). The association between weekly hours of physical activity and mental health: A three-year follow-up study of 15–16-year-old students in the city of Oslo, Norway. BMC Public Health, 7(155). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-7-155

Sarah (2014). "The impact of football in post-genocide Rwanda". Sportanddev.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

Tabaro, C. (2013). Code- switching in Rwanda. A case study of Kigali City Secondary school in Rwanda. Southeast Asia: A Multidisciplinary Journal, Vol. 13, pp 14–26.

Taras, H. (2015). Physical Activity and Student Performance at School. Journal of School Health, 75 (6). 214-218. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2005.00026.x

Trudeau, F. and Shepard, R. (2008). Physical education, school physical activity, school sports and academic performance. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 5(10). https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-5-10

UNESCO (2010) International Charter of Physical Education and Sport. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation, September, 22-23.

UNESCO (2014). Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2013/14: Teaching and Learning – Achieving Quality for All, UNESCO, Paris.

Wamukoya, E. (2012). 8-4-4 secondary school physical education curriculum in Kenya. In L.O. Amusa (Ed.) Proceedings of the 1st Africa Regional Conference on Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 4th-7th, October. Gaborone, Bots.

Wanjobi, W.C. (2011). Performance Determinants of Kenyan Certificate of secondary Education in Mathematics. Retrieved from htt://www.kcse.org/ies.html on 12 – 08 – 2018.

Whitlock, J.L. (2006). Youth perceptions of life at school: Contextual correlates of school connectedness in adolescence. Applied Developmental Science, 10, 13- 29. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532480xads1001_2

Zwick, R., & Sklar, J. C. (2005). Predicting college grades and degree completion using high school grades and SAT scores: The role of student ethnicity and first language. American Educational Research Journal, 42(3), 439–464. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312042003439

Downloads

Published

2021-12-20

How to Cite

Regine, M., & Andala, H. O. (2021). Sports’ Participation and Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Rwanda. Journal of Education, 4(8), 76–97. https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5039

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 4