Understanding Schooling Through the Perspective of Co-curricular activities

You may have heard the phrase “co-curricular activity” and wondered what it is. If we simply

put it, they are all the activities you choose to do outside the classroom. Of course, while

choosing your involvement with clubs, groups, organization and workshops, one always picks up the activity they enjoy the most. But did you know that these extracurricular activities are equally important when it comes to your personal development? This lesser-known relationship between the two has consequently got students living in an environment where they have a concise opinion of how co-curricular activities affect examination performance and grades.

Extracurricular activities can range between various focuses like school activities, community

activities, work-related activities and volunteering. Nothing goes in vain when the activities are branched under this category. With extracurricular comes knowledge which is ultimate

nourishment for the human mind and body. Today, the teacher and parent support for the

students’ involvement with co-curricular activities is a significant factor influencing the students’ performance and excellence in academics.

Voluntary activities which the school offers may not provide extra marks or grades in exams, but it does fulfil the goal of educational institutions, i.e., educating students for future success. Moreover, experience from these activities moulds an alternative curriculum for holistic development of behaviour, communication and time management in individuals.

Undoubtedly, the examination curriculum encourages the fullest possible development morally, creatively, and productively in a democratic society. But, its severity and sternness also bind students between the four walls of drudgery, incompetence, lethargy and inexposure. Extracurricular activities provide such learning which cannot be taught from subjects in the classroom, and it helps young ones to apply their classroom learning.

Olympiad exams are competitive examinations that are conducted at the school level. Based on the school curriculum, the test is conducted by various independent organizations. Olympiads are a platform for students to identify their capability to apply conceptual understanding of the subject and trace the real potential for the modern competitive world. Furthermore, accelerating the student’s problem-solving ability, the examination motivates them to endeavour a refined understanding of subjects by challenging them to think analytically.

J.A. Fredricks & Eccles book Developmental Psychology also gives substantial evidence of how school grade performance of students is directly linked with activity involvement out of the classroom. Their methodology proved that students who participate in various non-classroom activities tend to be more engaged in school time, have better exam grades and motivation towards education. Here, youth development is the prime moderator of this prosperity. Co-curriculum exercises its power by directing the students’ social and academic life through association with family, confidence, and compassionate character building which is an instrumental aspect in an individual’s development

For instance, the identity theories observed that extra curricula helped adolescents develop a more well-defined sense of self as they age. There are higher chances of them becoming more specialized in their activity participation with age. This shapes their personality, and their identity simultaneously corresponds to the activities they participate in. In other words, older adolescents have a stronger sense of who they are and what they like to do after school than younger adolescents. Thus, they also propose developmental implications with friendships because of the shared positive relation between two individuals.

Overall, the academic achievement of a student depends on more than just pedagogy.

Application, participation, and attitudinal development are the backstage elements that equally contribute to the scholastic merit of every student. Participation in organized co-curricular activities leads to social development that enhances their focus, emotional management, and strong engagement. In addition, these activities connect them to the participative network, which further plays a prominent role in stirring their ability to perceive, process, and ultimately learn.