Contributions of physical education and sports to moral development among secondary school students: a case of Dar es Salaam.

A positive moral development among secondary school students is very important as it helps in minimising unwanted behaviours which can results into the disturbances of school timetable as well as members of the school community. Immoral behaviours are of great concern among students in Tanzania. Thus, students’ involvement in physical education (PE) and sports activities is thought to have a chance of contributing to their positive moral behaviour development. That being the case, this study was set to investigate the contribution of PE and sports activities on the development of moral behaviours among secondary schools students. Four specific objectives guided this study: First, to identify types of PE programs and sports activities students engage in secondary schools. Second, to examine immoral behaviours that students engage in at secondary school, third, to explore the contribution of PE programs and sports activities in developing moral behaviours among secondary school students, and lastly, to identify challenges faced in implementation of PE programs and sports activities in secondary school. The study was conducted in six (6) secondary schools in Dar es Salaam region. A total sample of 188 respondents including 176 students who completed questionnaires; 6 head teachers and 6 PE teachers who were interviewed participated in this study. A mixed research approach employing a descriptive research design was employed. The data were treated both qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings revealed that most types of PE and sports in secondary schools were interclass competition and football for boys and netball for girls respectively, due to the scarcity of facilities and equipments. Furthermore, findings revealed that the common immoral behaviours among students were truancy, abusive language, smoking marijuana, bad dressing of uniforms and involvement in sex matters. Again, it was revealed that PE and sports have a remarkable contribution on moral development among students. While Challenges of PE and sports were shortage of financial resources, PE and sports facilities and equipments. It has been concluded that majority of students do not take part in PE and sports programmes due to various reasons including but not limited to negligence, shortage of resources and equipments and the attitude attached to it. Therefore, it is recommended that the government through its responsible organs like Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Work, Youths Development and Sports, together with other stakeholders should put more efforts in establishing and organising PE and sports activities in schools. This can be achieved through various strategies like employment of PE and sport tutors, supplying important equipments and other facilities as well as ensuring that enough spaces for play grounds are available.