IMPORTANCE OF CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION

Co-curricular Activities

• Co-Curricular activities are those activities, which are undertaken side by side with the curricular activities.

• They supplement curricular activities and prepare the students in the “Art of Living and Working Together.”

• Secondary educational commission (1952 - 1953) comments on the importance of co- curricular activities “co-curricular activities are as integral part of curricular activities of a school and their proper organization needs just as much care and forethought as the organization of curricular activities.”

• According to Mahatma Gandhi “By education, I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child and man - body, mind and spirit.”

• All-roundness is the theme of modern education which recognizes that when the child comes to the school, he comes for mental, physical, social, spiritual and vocational education and as such he must be educated and nourished in all of them.

IMPORTANCE OF CO- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION

• According to the modern concept of education, the three traditional Rs should be replaced by seven Rs, i.e., Reading, Writing and Arithmetic ( denoting school subjects in the old concept of education), Rights, Responsibilities, Recreation and Relationships (new four Rs in the context of democratic values). This can be achieved only by providing a well-organized and supervised program of co-curricular activities along with curricular program.

• Co-curricular activities are instrumental for drawing out the best potentialities of the child.

• Boosting the place of the co-curriculum in schools will equip young people with the civic spirit, initiative and organizing skills to set up their own clubs, teams and activity groups when they leave education.

• Changes in the philosophical and psychological ideas have now given a new direction to the school curriculum. • Co-curricular activities prepare

students practically for future. The normal curriculum can only go so far as to teach and educate students about academic theories.

• It ensures that students are exposed to practical tasks, not just what is taught in the class.

• Students have a right to a broad education.

• Successful co-curriculum often depends on building links between the school and the wider community, bringing local enthusiasts in to work with students, and sending students out to work on community projects, help in primary schools, perform for local audiences, etc.

Principles for the organization Of different co-curricular activities

• The school should have only those activities for which there are possibilities of making them success.

• As far as possible a wide variety of activities may be organized.

• Too many activities should not be introduced at a time.

• The activity should organize within school time.

• Activity should organize under the supervision of teachers who are experts and are really interested.

• As far as possible activities should be of less expensive and feasible.

• Every student should be given equal opportunity.

• In each activity the role of the teacher should be that of a facilitator.

• Each activity should be evaluated and detailed records should be maintained.

TYPES OF CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 1. Academic development

activities2. Aesthetic development

activities3. Cultural development

activities4. Emotional development

activities5. Leisure utilization activities6. Literacy development

activities7. Moral development

activities

8. Physical development activities

9. Productive activities10. Social development

activities11. Scientific temperament

development activities12. Spiritual development

activities in vocational oriented activities

13. Multipurpose activities and projects

1. ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Preparation of Charts, Models, etc. School Magazines, Essay writing, Story writing

etc. Subject clubs: E.g.- Social science club,

Geographical clubs, etc. Projects Symposiums Surveys Quiz

2. AESTHETIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Sculpture Dramatics Drawing, Painting, Decoration Exhibition Fancy dress Music

3. CUTURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Visit to Assembly and Parliament

Student’s councilYouth Parliament Social service.

4. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Camps Celebration of National and International

days Educational tours Speeches

5. LEISURE UTILISATION ACTIVITIES Album making, Coin collecting and

Stamp collecting Photography Educational Tours.

6. LITERACY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIESDebatesRecitationPublic speakingDeclamation contestsLibrary work

7. MORAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIESCelebration of birthdays of great menMorning AssemblySocial service

8. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Athletics Cycling Mass drill NCC Swimming Yogic Indoor and outdoor games

9. PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIESClay work, Manufacture of teaching aids etc

Embroidery and tailoringCraft work, book bindingLeather workKitchen gardeningSoap makingToy makingCard board work

10. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Scouting Girl guiding Community service Junior Red Cross National service scheme, NCC etc

11. SCIENTIFIC TEMPERAMENT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Science Fairs Science clubsScience quiz Science models Field trips, etc.

12. SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN VOCATIONAL ORIENTED ACTIVITIES

School choir, YogaMeditation

13.MULTI PURPOSE ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTSTree plantation, Adult education, Community

service and awareness, Beautification and cleanliness of school campus. Social service, Social survey.

ROLE OF A TEACHER IN CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Teachers should take an active interest in organizing co curricular activities as an integral part of the school program.

• In the teaching of subjects, they get innumerable opportunities to suggest a variety of activities. The scope of activities is very fast.

• The language teachers can organize essay competitions, handwriting competitions, debates, spelling competitions, etc.

• Social studies teachers can take up projects on the lives of great historical figures. Several types of maps could be prepared. Excursions to places of historical importance may be organized. Social surveys could be undertaken.

• The science teachers can develop scientific creativity among the students by providing appropriate creative thoughts.

• As a matter of fact, scope of organizing co- curricular activities is unlimited.

Hary C. Mckown has very aptly observed: “A school with only co-curricular activities would be as absurd as a school without them.” In other words an ideal balance has to be struck between the curricular and co-curricular program.

CONCLUSION