Institutional support and female Students’ participation in sports co-curricular activities at Makerere University: A case study of School of Education

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the institutional support and female students’ participation in sports co-curricular activities at Makerere University. Specifically this study focused on female sports participation. The study was guided by the following objectives: to assess the current trend of female students’ participation in sports co-curricular activities, students’ knowledge of Makerere University’s support of female students’ participation in sports co-curricular activities and the challenges affecting female students’ participation in sports co-curricular activities in Makerere University. A case study design was used. The study predominantly employed a mixed methods approach. A sample size of 359 respondents was selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Quantitative data analysis mainly consisted of descriptive statistics (percentages) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation, coefficient of determination and regression). Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Findings revealed that female students’ participation in sports activities in Makerere University was dependent on Makerere University’s support, students’ knowledge as well as overcoming the challenges that bar female students from participating in sports co-curricular activities. The above statistical findings implied that there may be an increase in female students’ participation in sports co-curricular activities at Makerere University though on a marginal scale possibly due to what the study found out to be attributed to low students’ knowledge of University support and the challenges that impeded their active participation. Therefore, there is a need to sensitize the students about sports activities, avail necessary support and also to overcome the challenges that hinder female students’ participation in sports activities at Makerere University. The study recommended further that Makerere University strengthens its support through provision of appropriate equipment and facilities, promote dissemination of useful information on available sports opportunities through all forms of media campaigns to influence positive students’ perception and also to ensure that sports activities are emphasized as mandatory student co-curricular obligations not only for health benefits but also as a supplement to their formal academic curriculum so that it’s taken seriously. This will help in motivating the students especially females to choose sports and physical activities as their career without perceiving it as minor.