Sports Participation and Academic Achievement Among Secondary School Students: A Comparative Analysis
Keywords:
sports participation, academic performance, secondary school students, physical activity, BangladeshAbstract
Background: Sports participation is vital for adolescent development, and its association with academic performance is yet to be established, especially in Bangladesh. This study investigated the relationship between participation in organised sports programs and academic performance in secondary school students in the city of Rajshahi.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in 1335 students in five secondary schools in classes 6, 7, and 8. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on demographic characteristics, sports participation, and self-reported mathematics and science scores. The academic performance of sports participants and non-sports participants was compared using independent-samples t-tests.
Results: Ninety-one students participated in organised sports, and 1,244 students did not participate in organised sports. Non-participants achieved higher mean mathematics scores than sports participants (66.05 ± 21.47 vs. 59.24 ± 18.97; t = 2.94, p < .05). A similar pattern was observed in science (68.70 ± 19.50 vs. 60.66 ± 18.23; t = 3.81, p < .05). The mean score comparisons between the different grades revealed a consistently higher mean score for the non-participants at all grade levels, with the greatest difference in scores occurring in the Class 8 grade level in science. The most common sporting activities were football and badminton.
Conclusion: This sample of sports participants had a lower academic score, albeit with relatively small effect sizes. The results of this study support a balanced approach to support sports participation and provide adequate academic support in the context of secondary school education in Bangladesh.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Raju Ahmed, Nishat Tasnim, Md. Hasan Al Azad (Author)
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