The contribution of sport on academic achievement in primary schools in Same district.

The purpose of the study was to examine contribution of sports on academic achievement in primary schools in Tanzania. Three objectives were set to guide this study; first, to examine the types of sports played by pupils in primary schools, second, to explore the views about the contribution of sports in academic achievement in primary schools and finally to find out the challenges facing head of schools and teachers in implementing sports programmes in primary schools. A qualitative research approach was employed informed by descriptive case study research design. The study was conducted in six primary schools in Same District in Kilimanjaro region. Interview, observation and documentary review were employed to collect data. The sample included sixty respondents, of which thirty six were pupils, six were sport teachers, six were academic teachers, six were class teachers and six were heads of schools. The participants were obtained by using purposive sampling as for the case of heads of schools, academic teachers sport teachers and other teaching staff and stratified random sampling was used to get pupils. The data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings revealed that the types of sports activities played in primary schools were football for boys, netball for girls, traditional games and athletics. It was also found that only few schools had sport facilities mainly for football and netball. Majority of schools lacked sports equipment and supplies. The findings also indicated that sports helps students to become physically fit hence contribute to academic achievement indirectly as it enables students' attendance to school. Moreover, it was revealed that sports contribute to academic achievement in that it enhances good cooperation, sense of respect for others, team work, acceptance to others, self-confidence, self-awareness, tolerance, love and care, building spirit of hardworking and commitment. Such values were seen as important in pupils' academic achievement. Moreover, it was found that inadequate resources (financial, physical), scarcity of qualified sports teachers, scarcity of time and negative attitudes of parents, teachers and pupils towards sports were challenges facing heads of schools and teachers in implementing sports programmes in primary schools. It was recommended that all stakeholders in education should focus on producing enough physical and fiscal resources for sports so as to improve the delivery of sports in schools. It was further recommended that the teachers' colleges should establish special programmes for physical education teachers in order to have qualified Physical Education and sports coaches and teachers for primary schools.