•Scientists have also explored the connection between physical activity, physical fitness, mental and cognitive health, and academic achievement.
•Students should be given frequent, developmentally appropriate breaks for physical activity, given the value of time on task for learning.
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The Kenya Secondary School national football champions, St. Anthony's Kitale and Butere Girls have shone brightly once again.
The brilliance of the two Kenyan football powerhouses came to the fore last week when both of them posted remarkable results at the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.
Whereas St. Anthony's posted an amazing school mean of 10.5, Butere recorded 9.1 to rank best in Kakamega county.
The development came barely months after the two institutions stole the national headlines after storming to the KSSSA boys and girls titles respectively.
Over the years, there has been a misleading perception that learners who excel in football lack the aptitude to post impressive marks in the academic field
A closer look at matters will attest to a different scenario given there are several schools that have earned respect for juggling successfully between sports and academics.
The adage "All work without play makes Jack a dull boy" cannot be ignored at all. Science has shown on several occasions that there is a correlation between sports and academics.
While intelligence and environmental factors interact in a complex way to determine academic performance, a child's health plays a critical moderating role in their learning capacity.
It is well-acknowledged and empirically confirmed that children in good health learn more effectively. Numerous studies have established the positive health effects of physical activity, including improvements in bone health, cognitive and brain health, cardiovascular and muscular fitness, and psychosocial outcomes.
Scientists have also explored the connection between physical activity, physical fitness, mental and cognitive health, and academic achievement.
Research indicates that improving physical fitness and activity levels may enhance academic performance. It also shows that scheduling recess, physical education classes, and physical activity in the classroom during the school day may help students do better academically.
The research that is currently available indicates that the academic subjects most affected by physical activity are reading and mathematics. Effective and efficient executive function—which has been connected to exercise and physical fitness—is necessary for these subjects.
Academic achievement is based on brain health and executive function. Learning is facilitated by basic cognitive processes linked to attention and memory, which are strengthened by physical activity and increased cardiovascular fitness.
Engaging in both short-term and long-term physical activity enhances brain health and cognitive function. Youngsters who engage in physical activity at a vigorous or moderate level get the most.
Students should be given frequent, developmentally appropriate breaks for physical activity, given the value of time on task for learning.
Physically active teachers provided in the classroom have the potential to improve students' time on task and attention to detail, despite their current situation.
Having said that, it is also imperative for schools to do completely away with unnecessary entry barriers placed on students seeking to join their institutions.
For instance, some schools are known to restrict entry by raising entry marks while conducting football trials. This only serves to lock out deserving students who have the potential to excel in sports besides academics.