Wainibuka Secondary School is using sport as a key driver to attract more students and create opportunities beyond the classroom.

The school’s principal Maciu Koroitamana says they are gradually expanding their sports programme beyond rugby and athletics to include netball and volleyball, while strengthening training and support for each team.

“When I came into the school, we decentralized the organisation of sports instead of just a sports committee so that we can also cater for the other sports. So, before when it used to be only rugby, we did not excel and then athletics and from last year we wanted to include netball and also volleyball. But strategically we will start introducing each one at a time and seeing that we strengthen our support for that in terms of (0:43) training and supporting the team as well and the results as well.”

He add that the approach has contributed to a significant rise in the school roll, from 116 students to 244 last year and 273 this year, while also helping boost students’ academic engagement.

“Last year when I came, the roll 216 and then it went up to 244. This year it has increased to 273 students. We also did well academically. I also feel strongly that having the students actively involved in sports will filter into the classroom as well.”