Co-Curricular Education: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Improvements

This essay delves into the significance of co-curricular education, explaining it as activities outside of formal academic courses that are essential for holistic student development. It highlights the benefits, such as improved social skills, time management, self-esteem, and the exploration of diverse interests. The essay incorporates various perspectives and discusses the challenges schools face, including a lack of resources, parental and teacher involvement, academic pressures, misconceptions, and increased competition. It concludes by suggesting recommendations for future improvements, emphasizing the need for balanced focus and the development of well-rounded students. The essay underscores the importance of extracurricular activities in shaping well-rounded individuals prepared for success. This assignment is contributed by a student and is available on Desklib for students to use as a study resource.

CO-CURRICULAR
EDUCATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Co-curricular is explained as the activity, program or other learning experiences which
children learn within the premisses of school. In simple words, it is separate from academic
courses. It is necessary for student to have co-curricular knowledge as academic knowledge is
only not sufficient to compete in within the market. In present world, it is also necessary because
it helps student to learn different types of strategies and find the solution whenever it is required.
In context of the file, there will be discussion on the topic co-curricular eduction and its main
benefits which students must have. Secondly, with the help of different writer, there opinion will
on co-curricular eduction will be explained. Then, different challenges which school premisses
faces whenever they promote co-curricular eduction. Finally, in the last segment,
recommendation will be given that how improvement can be done in future period of time.
MAIN BODY
Co-curricular activities is also known as extracurricular activities and it is one of the part
of non-academic curriculum which helps to develop personality of child and student.
Extracurricular curricular is necessary for each and every person as it helps to refresh the mind
and helps to overcome from the problem which people faces. It is one of the things which helps
to develop confidence among the students from early stage of their life (Davis, Sullivan and
Guzman, 2018). Some of the types of activities which falls under co-curricular activities are
sports, musical, art, drama and many more. As per the given brief it can be interpreted that there
are thousand of parents as well as students who have developed the concept that academic results
are more important then any of the things in present scenario. They have built the concept that if
student will focus on other topic except eduction then they will not be able to compete with other
students in future period of time. It create negative impact for upcoming generation as per their
mind sets and it is needed to be changed as soon as possible in future period of time. Parents are
not ready to understand that it is one of the way which can help to increase the level of self-
esteem within the human being and if it can be achieved in early age then it helps at different age
group (Glass and et. al., 2017).
According to brief, it want to express that if parents and students can understand the
importance of co-curricular activities then they could have easily judge that what is the potential
of every individual. What they are capable of doing and what are there strength and weaknesses
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as it can be easily recognised. They are unable to understand that what people can do and what
they cannot do. Some of the additional abstract which has been mentioned with the file that,
whenever student participate within the extracurricular activities they get the chance to enhance
their strength and source of knowledge because it directly helps to improve skills (Simpson and
Grimes, 2017).
It is important for each and every students that they have some additional talents and
skills and for that it is necessary for them to focus on extra curricular activities because it helps to
find the talent of individual. While talking about different types of benefits of extracurricular
activities, some of them have been mentioned below:
Social Skill and Relationship Building: In student life, the most important thing which
they notice is that what types of friend circle they have and what they are capable of doing when
they all are together. But, in many of the case people are able to build friendship with the help of
extracurricular activities because students from different grades gather together which directly
helps to develop relationship between them.
Time Management Skills: It is necessary for each and every students that they must
know about the time management and how important it is in there personal life. Many of the
students are unable to manage it because of lack of skills. Whenever students participate within
any of the game or program they have to accomplish the task on fix period of time. Because of all
these, students who take participate within co-curricular activities they easily learn to manage
their time. Any of the students who is good at extracurricular activities then they have the ability
of strong time management skills (Rockenbach and et. al., 2015).
Exploring a Plethora of Interests: It is said that co-curricular activities offer a nearly
infinite range of possibilities for students wanting to develop and nurture various interests from
athletics to the arts and beyond. People get the chance to push their strength and gives themselves
a chance to reach up to the stage from where they can attain the success which they want to
achieve their life (Top 5 Benefits of Co-Curricular Activities for Students, 2015). It is one of the
area which directly or indirectly helps individual to explore themselves at any of the platform.
Developing Self-esteem: There are number of students who is not satisfied with the
things which they do in their life. After achieving all of the targets within the field of education
they want to achieve the target of meeting self-esteem needs. In students life, self-esteem relates
with extracurricular activities and if they are able to achieve the target which they want to meet
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then there self-esteem needs can be easily achieved. With the help of extracurricular activities,
students starts to be recognised by everyone within the premisses of school. Experiencing
success or being recognized for a contribution to a co-curricular activity can greatly improve
students’ self-esteem (De Hoyos-Ruperto and et. al., 2017). Often times, this can have a positive
impact on performance within premisses of classroom.
Commitment: The most important thing in everyone life is that either people are able to
fulfil their commitment or not because that has the great importance within their life. In context
of co-curricular activities, students are required to understand that they have to perform for longer
period of time where commitment is required (Liem and et. al., 2018). In future, commitment
have significant role for achieving the targets and if people have the habit from early stage of the
life to complete their commitment then they can achieve the things which they want.
Deal with situation: Whenever people take part in any of the curricular activities, they
need to deal with types of situation. As number of condition arises and according to that different
types of decision needed to be taken and if students starts to understand about the situation from
early days then they can easily solve the issues which arises in front of them.
According to “Anjum Khan”, school includes Co-Curricular activities and it is one of the
source which helps to develop skills and knowledge of any student on any of the particular topic.
Within the school life of any students extra activities plays significant role for the development of
students. In simple words, it helps to enhance the learning process within the students. It is
necessary at present scenario in each and every school because it is said that people are
incomplete if they lack knowledge in different department. Co-curricular activities are mainly to
improve the skill related to social, intellectual, moral and even personal skill (Role and
Importance of Co-Curricular Activities at School, 2019).
As per the view of “Dr. David Lit”, co-curricular activities refers to the program and also
additional learning program which help to complement the students for learning something new
within the premisses of school (The Importance of Co-curricular Activities for Students Holistic
Development, 2019). This activities are significant for the purpose of improvement in the
department of emotional, cognitive, physical and even social level. It is one of the thing which
being out the best from individual when they requires it the most. In addition, it is said that
whenever student focus on extra activity then they try to ensure to keep themselves out of mental
stress and even in many of the tough situation they decision making ability also improves with it.
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Although, it one of the most important topic within the premisses of school because it
gives idea to them that how growth should be done within the students but still there are number
of school which faces problem and challenges (Carter and et. al., 2016). In order to come up with
solution, firstly it is necessary to understand about the accurate abstract which are being faced in
current situation. Below, some of the challenges have been explained which are being mainly
faced by school in current situation:
Lack of necessary facilities in schools: There are number of schools which has been
commenced but they are unable to meet out the expectation of students. These schools are unable
to deliver the facilities which students must get during their eduction life. Due to the lack of fund,
students are unable to enjoy and even learn the life of co-curricular activities (Mishoe and et. al.,
2018). School is unable to maintain the balance between sports and academics. Here, it is
necessary for schools that they should try to understand that how important co-curricular
activities are in the life of students. In addition, there are also number of students who is unable
to get facilities to learn extra activities because of not available of ground within the premisses of
school.
Not involving parents and teachers: There are number of students who have to deal
with different types of situation but it is there parents and teacher who don't show their
willingness to teach their children something new. They both develop the concept that students
have the time to learn such kinds of activity afterwards in their life but education is important in
current situation. Parents and teachers both are required to understand the skills and talent of
student from the early stage of their life and if can be done then problem can be sorted out. In
short, it is one of the major problem or challenge which is being faced and it is needed to be
solved as soon as possible.
Academic pressures: In present situation, students have lots of problem and stress related
to passing the different level of exams (Challenges facing balanced curriculum in schools, 2016).
For passing those exams, it is necessary that assignment and project should be completed on time.
Whole of the syllabus need to be winded up as soon as possible so that students can get the
chance to revise each and every topic. Due to all this stuff, students are not ready to take part
within extracurricular activities. In addition, student wants to focus on one of the specific
department which doesn't allow them to involve themselves within multi-tasking activities.
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Misconceptions: There are number of students who have developed the misconceptions
that if they will participate within co-curriculum then their academic performance will decline
automatically. They even do not want to explore themselves in front of other because they have
the mentality that if they fails in any of the task then what other people will think. Students don't
want to know know about their talent and skill due to which they do not want to support their
schools while conducting extracurricular activities (Coleman, 2018).
Increase in competition among the school for better result: In modern days,
competition within the market is increasing day by day where each school wants to prove
themselves as best in context of delivering better result. For the purpose of obtaining better
results from students they pressurise them to focus more on academic activities for personal
benefits.
According to “Wong and Leung, 2018”, they thinks that it is understandable that school
faces different challenges while conducting different types of Co-curricular activities and the
reason is that parents themselves want that their children must perform better and for that
academic performance is crucial. There are number of schools who just want to think about
personal benefit as they way to compete within the market and because of that they do not want
to support their students. Even there are number of children who thinks that if they will have
theoretical knowledge then can overcome from any of the problem which arises in front of them.
By considering this, there are number of children who don't prefer themselves involving within
extracurricular activities and that creates problem for school. It is one of the major problem
which have came across and it is necessary that in future period of time changes are needed to be
done and for that school themselves need to take some of the initiatives through which better
results can be obtained in future period of time.
Recommendation: As there are number of abstract which can be seen while providing
additional knowledge and skill to student and it is important for them all to understand that they
must need to take some of the initiatives for future changes. Firstly, it is necessary for each and
every school to develop the concept in which student, parents and teachers, all should have the
detail knowledge that how important is co-curricula eduction is for each and every students.
Secondly, strict rules should be made in which all of the school should allocate the specific
amount of fund for utilising for the betterment of skills and knowledge of each students. While
talking about third suggestion, there are number of students who have developed the negative
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mind set that academic performance is much important and that is needed to be changed by
making them understand that what are the different types of benefits which students gets if they
have co-curricula activities.
In addition, pressure upon students is increasing day by day due to which they are unable
to decided that what should be done and when should be done. This is the problem which has
been created b schools themselves and they are needed to overcome by themselves and for that
they can teach them that how they can manage there time (Vos and et. al., 2018). Also, they
teachers can guide the students about various benefits which students can get if they participate
within co-curricula education. There are some of the other reason as well which is needed to be
changed for example: students have misconceptions that academic performance is much better
but there mindset is needed to be changed and for changing it, teacher need to guide students that
what they can achieved if they have additional skills and knowledge. This are some of the
recommendation which can help school to overcome from the challenges which they are facing in
current situation.
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CONCLUSION
It is concluded form the above file that co-curricular activities are the must important in
context of every school. Each and every schools needs to develop there students by guiding them
on different field, not just making them to relay on academic performance. There are different
writers who written different things about co-curricula activities but still final point on which
they have concluded is that co-curricula activities are the must important part in life of every
students. If they want to perform better in future period of time them they must be able to use
their skills and knowledge. Some of the benefits which a person can attain with the help of co-
curricula eduction is that they can understand that how they can manage their time, develop better
relationship with other people and also decided that what types of decision can be helpful for
attain there personal milestone.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Davis, J. N., Sullivan, K. & Guzman, A. (2018). Catalyst for growth: The implications of co-
curricular experiences for nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education. 57(2). 110-
114.
Simpson, T. E. & Grimes, L. H. (2017). Education Abroad Co-Curricular Experiences that Result
in Intercultural Responsive Leadership Growth. In Intercultural Responsiveness in the
Second Language Learning Classroom (pp. 238-257). IGI Global.
Rockenbach, A. N. & et. al., (2015). Fostering the pluralism orientation of college students
through interfaith co-curricular engagement. The Review of Higher Education. 39(1).
25-58.
Liem, G. A. D. & et. al., (2018). Participation in school-based co-curricular activities and student
development: A motivation and engagement perspective.
Mishoe, S. C. & et. al., (2018). Health Professions Students' Teamwork Before and After an
Interprofessional Education Co-Curricular Experience. Journal of Research in
Interprofessional Practice and Education. 8(1).
Wong, H. & Leung, S. (2018). How Do Tertiary Education Students Perceive Co-Curricular
Activities under the New Education System?. International Education Studies. 11(2).
83-96.
Vos, S. S. & et. al., (2018). Using Continuing Professional Development to Create Meaningful
Co-Curricular Learning Opportunities for all Student Pharmacists. American journal of
pharmaceutical education. 82(4). 6270.
Coleman, J. D. (2018). Engaging undergraduate students in a co-curricular digital badging
platform. Education and Information Technologies. 23(1). 211-224.
Carter, D. F. & et. al., (2016). Co-curricular connections: The role of undergraduate research
experiences in promoting engineering students’ communication, teamwork, and
leadership skills. Research in Higher Education. 57(3). 363-393.
De Hoyos-Ruperto, M. & et. al., (2017). An entrepreneurship education co-curricular program to
stimulate entrepreneurial mindset in engineering students. MRS Advances. 2(31-32),
1673-1679.
Glass, C. R. & et. al., (2017). Faculty as bridges to co-curricular engagement and community for
first-generation international students. Studies in Higher Education. 42(5). 895-910.
Online
Role and Importance of Co-Curricular Activities at School. 2019. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.jagranjosh.com/articles/role-and-importance-of-cocurricular-activities-at-
school-1507643588-1/>
Top 5 Benefits of Co-Curricular Activities for Students. 2015. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://blogs.yorkschool.com/connect/2015/09/04/top-5-benefits-co-curricular-
activities-students/>
The Importance of Co-curricular Activities for Students Holistic Development. 2019. [Online].
Available Through: <https://theknowledgereview.com/importance-co-curricular-
activities-students-holistic-development/>
Challenges facing balanced curriculum in schools. 2016. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://enezaeducation.com/challenges-facing-balanced-curriculum-in-schools/>
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