At Panyadoli Self Help Secondary School, sports are not viewed merely as a pathway to competition and trophies. They are an integral part of the school’s approach to instilling discipline, responsibility and positive character among learners.
This was highlighted by the school’s Headteacher, Lagu Yassir, during a stakeholder engagement visit by the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Secretariat on Friday, 25 September 2026.
Addressing the USSSA team, Yassir explained that the school deliberately uses sports as an extension of the classroom, providing students with opportunities to develop discipline, teamwork, commitment, responsibility and respect for rules.
With a student population of approximately 1,740 learners, Panyadoli Self Help Secondary School brings together students from diverse backgrounds, with the majority of its learners being Sudanese nationals.
For the school administration, sports provide an important platform for bringing these students together, allowing them to interact, build relationships and develop a shared sense of responsibility despite their different backgrounds.
The school mainly participates in baseball and football, disciplines through which it continues to engage students and provide opportunities for both talent development and character building.
The engagement by the USSSA Secretariat formed part of the association’s ongoing stakeholder engagement programme aimed at strengthening its connection with member schools and gaining a deeper understanding of the experiences, challenges and needs of school sports practitioners.
During the visit, the USSSA team engaged the school administration and games teachers on strengthening cooperation, improving communication and clarifying expectations in the continued development of school sports.
For Panyadoli Self Help Secondary School, however, the impact of sports extends beyond the scoreboard.The playing field is regarded as an extension of the classroom, a space where learners can develop discipline, cooperation, commitment, respect and other values that contribute to their growth both in school and beyond.
The approach reflects the broader role of school sport in identifying, nurturing and developing talent while contributing to the holistic development of learners.
