04 Jun 2026

Lucrative as modern sport is, balancing it with education remains a major challenge for many athletes.

Juggling the two is so daunting that some perceive it as akin to mixing oil and water, believing that one must inevitably suffer for the other to succeed.

In football, for example, players sign massive contracts that provide long-term financial security for their families.

At the same time, many athletes grow up hearing the phrase ‘education is the key to success, a narrative that holds strong to this day.

According to Dr Tshepang Tshube, an Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Kentucky, the issue of balancing school and sports must be addressed at a policy level. He stated that this responsibility should not fall solely on the athletes and their parents.

“Both parents and athletes have a role to play, but this is a policy conversation. In some countries, it actually becomes a legislative conversation,” Dr Tshube said.

“However, Botswana and several other African countries use a laissez-faire system, where there is no policy or programme to balance school and sports, leading to minimal or no support overall.”

Consequently, there is an urgent need for institutional policies that guide primary schools, secondary schools, and universities on how to integrate education and sports so they do not run parallel to one another.

Dr Tshube warned that without integration, some athletes will be forced to drop out or choose one over the other.

He added that it is common knowledge that sports facilitate education; therefore, the two should complement each other rather than compete.

Also he said a structured policy would provide a framework for designing flexible academic programmes which would allow student-athletes to take a lighter course load to accommodate their rigorous training schedules, even if it means remaining in school longer than traditional students.

Furthermore, he stated that a formalised system would provide vital financial backing and dedicated healthcare to successfully manage both responsibilities.

“Botswana should, as a matter of urgency, develop a dual-career plan that guides the balance between school and sport,” he concluded.ENDS