Assessing the Association between Provision of Sports Facilities and Student Sporting Talent Development in Public Secondary Schools in Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

The study assessed the relationship between the availability of sports facilities and the development of sporting talent among students in public secondary schools in Meru County, Kenya. The study attempted to establish whether, with increased sports facilities, the students’ sporting talent development improved. The research employed a convergent parallel design, merging quantitative data from questionnaires and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews conducted with principals, games masters, and students from 172 schools in Meru county. The analytical methods included the use of both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated a direct relationship between the quality of sports facilities and the level of student sports talent development. Precisely, schools with better-developed sports facilities are favorably positioned to report better student participation and their performance in sports. For example, 56.5% of the respondents felt the current facilities were wanting, which affects the students' performance in sports. The null hypothesis (Ho), however, was rejected, yielding evidence of a significant relationship between the provision of facilities and sporting talent development (Chi-square=51.80, p<.00001). The study recommends to school administrators that facility improvement and maintenance be given the highest consideration, such that more and more facilities are opened up for the use of all students. The allocation of sports facilities resources in public schools must be an agenda of policy planners. Further, sports programs have to be assessed continuously and realigned to the needs of students at all times. In effect, these point to the need for adequate facilities to provide support for the development of student-athletes. The study is crucial not only in bridging the regional gap that existed in such data but also as a model for other similar research exercises in other contexts toward policy enhancement and educational planning for the holistic development of students through sports.