Comparative Analysis of Sports Participation in Tanzanian Secondary Schools: Implications for Reform

The need to identify disparities and opportunities in sports participation across Tanzanian secondary schools is vital for informing policies for sports development. This study, therefore, offers an understanding of the comparative analysis of sports participation in secondary schools. Through a mixed-methods research approach, triangulated data from surveys and interviews involving 427 participants revealed high participation in ball games such as football, netball, basketball, and volleyball, whereas sports such as tennis, badminton, swimming, and aerobics recorded minimal participation. Limited facilities constrained participation in certain sports, though schools made efforts to encourage students’ involvement through structuring sports programmes and extracurricular activities as well as improvising resources when necessary. The findings imply that it is imperative to reform sports programmes to cater for the diverse needs of all students and promote their participation. Also, schools need to reform the structure of accessing resources and strengthen policy enforcement to prioritize the running of sports activities. This study concludes that to enhance participation, schools should implement policies and strategies to promote diverse sports activities and improve access to sports resources.