Influence of participation in sports on academic performance among students in public secondary schools in Imenti North Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to examine the influence of sporting activities on academic performance among students in public secondary schools in Imenti North Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya. This study employed a descriptive research design. Fifteen schools were identified in the study using stratified sampling based on the zones. The sample size comprised 15 class teachers, 15 games masters, 15 principals and 225 from three students. Data was obtained through structured questionnaires, oral interviews, and primary and secondary sources to ensure the reliability and validity of the study. Twenty-two from three students from two public secondary schools in Buuri Sub-County were used for the pre-test, which was approximately (10%) of the sample size. After the data was collected, it was sorted, cleaned and coded. Subsequently, the data was keyed into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 27) for processing. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilised in data analysis. The study established that there was a significant influence of sporting activities on academic performance in public secondary schools. The study concluded that students' involvement in sporting activities had a positive influence on their academic performance among public secondary schools in Imenti North Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya. The study recommends that school administrators should invest in games and enlighten students on the benefits of engaging in sports. Moreover, policymakers should look for measures to encourage students to engage in sports to better attendance rates, lower dropout rates, and improve academic performance.