Challenges and Prospects in the Promotion and Development of Sports in Secondary Schools in Awka South Educational Zone

Abstract

This study investigated the challenges and prospects in the development and promotion of sports in secondary schools in Awka South LGA, Educational Zone. A Survey research design was adopted for the study as five research questions were raised to guide the study. The population consisted of the students and teachers in all the public secondary schools in Awka-South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The sample consisted of 200 respondents from five (5) public secondary schools randomly selected from the eighteen (18) public secondary schools in the area. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the upper basic school students and their Physical and Health Education (PHE) teachers as the respondents to whom the instrument was administered to while convenient sampling technique was used in administering the instrument. The instrument used was a structured questionnaire containing 25 items. The instrument’s validity was established and test-retest reliability value obtained using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient was 0.84. In each of these schools, forty (40) copies of the questionnaire were administered making a total of two hundred (200) respondents with a 97.5 per cent return rate achieved. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency and mean. Based on the findings, in the area of sports promotion and development, secondary schools in Awka South LGA Educational zone face challenges of inadequate sports facilities/sports centers and equipment; insufficient support from the government, improper use of funds for the development of sports in schools, economic problems and mismanagement amongst others. The researchers hence recommended that the government should establish standard sports centers, stadiums and recreational programs that are attractive to all people especially in Awka-South LGA, to ensure that students participates in sports both at school and at home. Also, Government and school authorities should ensure that sports activities are funded in schools amongst other