School curriculum is the total experiences of a student under the guidance of the school. Some experiences are planned while others are unplanned i.e., the Hidden Curriculum. Extra-curricular activities are part of the unplanned curriculum of educational system which provide to the students numerous educational and social opportunities which are not included in the classroom setting. Extra-curricular activities include such activities like sport, volunteering, students clubs, debates, contests, quiz, community programs, etc.
Some parents and students regard extracurricular activities as unnecessary burden which schools do not take into consideration in grading students’ progress. …show more content…
Many students are blessed with natural talents. For example, some students show much talent in playing football, running, speaking, dancing, singing, etc. Unfortunately, the normal school curriculum does not make provision for the development of such talents. Such talents can be developed through constant and habitual practice. Fortunately, extra-curricular activities give room for the development of such natural talents of the students.
Extra-curricular activities also increase the students’ self-esteem. Many students do not know what they are good at, and feel worthless. Through extra-activities, students can boost their self-esteem by engaging in things and activities of their interest.
Extra-curricular activities inspire students in the sense that they help them gained admission into their prepared colleges and programs. The activities make students appealing to admission officers and employers. This was my experience when I applied for African Leadership Unleashed (ALU) inaugural scholarship. Engaging in numerous extra-curricular activities during my High School years made my application more appealing to the college admission officers. When I was notified that I qualified to the final stage of application, the admission officer informed me that they were particular impressed by my participation in extra-curricular activities particularly been the Secretary General of Muslim …show more content…
In our contemporary education system, especially in developing countries, the education system place high emphasis on cognitive domains of learning while ignoring the other domains of learning. This implies that the emphasis is on purely academic education which is in most cases not relevant to the work or out-of-school environment. Many students seat passively and listen to lectures that are not their interest but something they see as compulsory. With our contemporary education system placing more emphasis on purely academic system of education that does for prepare students for work and out-of-school environment, extra-curricular activities gives students opportunities to engage in activities of their interest which are not provided under the formal classroom setting; and which give them necessary skills and opportunities to face out-of-school life effectively. They enables students to accomplish their goals in life by engaging in what they love doing instead of taking boring lectures and note that are not relevant to their goals and