Abstract:
This study attempted to assess major factors affecting the participation of physically disabled students in physical activity and interscholastic sport: in the case of some selected secondary schools of south bench woreda. Drawing on the findings, the study presents students’ major factors affecting their participation in physical activity and interscholastic sport, students’ response about their participation in physical activity and interscholastic sport, students’ response about possible solutions to increase participation of physically disabled students in physical activity and interscholastic sport were assessed. This descriptive research design was used both qualitative and quantitative research analysis methods. Population of this study was principals, teachers and students who were currently teaching and learning in selected schools of South Bench woreda . In 10th, 11th and 12th grades, there were 54 physically disabled students (13 females and 41 males). And also 6 PE teachers and 3 principals were selected by using available sampling techniques. The findings of this research revealed that the participation of physically disabled students in physical activity and interscholastic sport are full of constraints as it is clearly observed from responses obtained from students, teachers and principals in the questionnaire, interview and observation respectively. In this regard, less frequency of participation of physically disabled students, the type of the program given for them was not totally modified, rate of their participation was poor, absence of opportunities from school community for physically disabled students, lack of school support and lack of facilities and equipment were the major factors/problems raised from respondents. In this aspect, most respondents proved that physically disabled students didn’t participate in physical activity because of the listed