Should we promote co-curricular activities in schools?

A question has generally been raised if co-curricular activities should be given more significance in schools and if these activities need to be formally recognized as having equal significance as compared to the academic activities. The points that are in favor of the significance of co-curricular activities can be described as:

1. There are many persons who believe that co-curricular activities play an important role in preparing the students for their future. While the academic curriculum can only teach the basic principles of various subjects, the students can get first-hand experience of how their academic knowledge can be applied in practice. As a result, by giving equal significance to the co-curricular activities in schools, the students will be able to achieve the ability through which they can understand things as a whole and in this way, the students will be able to achieve all round education. At the same time, co-curricular activities can also provide the students with a chance to learn how they can work in teams. Similarly these activities can also provide leadership skills to the students and how to take initiatives in a wide range of situations. As a result of this experience, the students can become more efficient for the potential employers and also increase the chances of doing well in higher education in the universities.

2. Generally, in case of most co-curricular activities, there are physical activities involved. As a result, these activities allow the students to remain away from the desk and also to try new things. Therefore it can be said that co-curricular activities are also important for the health of the students. In the same way, these activities also provide a chance to the students to do practical tasks and not only remain confined to the academic curriculum that is delivered in the classrooms. Therefore, if core curricular activities are given equal significance as the academic activities, the students will be able to become well-balanced individuals. An example in this regard can be given of the situation where the future politicians will be concerned with the social studies and at the same time, they will also be able to converse in various languages and perform several calculus operations. Similarly they will also have the experience to serve the society as they would have been engaged in community work as students. Therefore, co-curricular activities can provide a number of benefits to the students and as a result, these activities should be made a part of the syllabus.

3. As a result of the experience that can be provided by co-curricular activities, the students can become prepared for the future. If co-curricular activities are provided alongside the academic knowledge, the students will be in a better position to play an effective role in the society. For example, a student may have to change his or her career on many occasions. Therefore if such a student has a basic knowledge of multiple skills, it will be helpful for the student to switch carriers. For example, in case, as a result of a mishap, the carrier of an athlete has been cut short, the person should have the capability to venture into business if such person has experience in entrepreneurship as a result of the poor curricular activities that were provided to the person along with the academic knowledge. Similarly, certain co-curricular activities like debates and speech clubs are also very helpful in providing communication skills to future doctors or engineers. Therefore, with the help of co-curricular activities, the students can be provided with a number of possibilities in choosing their carrier.

4. The students have a right to have a broad education. Therefore, even the science students should be given a chance to learn music or a social studies student should be able to take part in sports. A number of children have talent in different fields. As a result, it will not be appropriate if these children are forced by the system to specialize very early in life. The career is not the only part of the adult life of a student. As a result, the schools should make sure that the students are also provided with the skills and interests that can help the students in their family life as well as leisure time. It is very important to maintain a balance between the academic activities and the co-curricular activities because in this way, the students can become multitalented. On the other hand, the individuals who have lopsided development are not capable of facing the future efficiently.

On the other hand, there are some persons who believe that more significance needs to be given to academic curriculum. According to them:-

1. Academic curriculum needs to be given more significance as compared to the co-curricular activities in schools and colleges. Particularly in case of the institutions imparting higher education, an important role is played by the students of the institution in framing the curriculum as well as the co-curricular activities. However theco-curricular activities do not play an important role in the life of a student instead sometimes, as a result of these activities, the students find it difficult to focus on the academic activities and in this way, too much emphasis on co-curricular activities may prove to be harmful.

2. There is a trend in the society according to which, specialized individuals in a particular field are more preferred as compared to the super talented individuals. These days, it is the demand of the modern carriers to have such skills and knowledge that may take a long time to acquire. As a result, it is not preferable to divert the attention of the student from developing the skills in the particular field in which the student has decided to specialize by focusing on co-curricular activities. Therefore, whenever we decide to go to a doctor or an engineer, we are not interested in their overall personality but only want to go to the person who has knowledge in his or her own field.

3. In case of most of the specialist professions, there are a wide range of career opportunities available and therefore it is not necessary to compromise academic education by having more stress on co-curricular activities. For example, even if an athlete has been injured, such a person can still continue in the field of sports but without taking part in the sport itself. Therefore such a person can opt to become a coach or start giving lectures on sport science. On the other hand, if a person is still interested in changing his or her carrier midlife, there are a number of opportunities for continuing education available to such a person.

4. At the same time, laying more stress on co-curricular activities may also be harmful for the society. Already there are a number of clubs, groups and teams that can be joined by young people in various fields like sports, drama and music. Therefore, they should not be neglected by giving academic credit to only the ones that take place in schools. Similarly, the local hockey club of the town may be deprived of young players by the school hockey team. At the same time, as compared to the teams and groups present in the schools, the groups and teams present in the society allow a chance to the people of all ages to take part in these activities.

5. Similarly if the co-curricular activities are indeed very beneficial for the students, instead of forcing the students by giving equal significance to these activities, a choice should be given to the students if they want to engage in co-curricular activities or not. Sometimes, it may be very difficult to fulfill the requirements of academic education and co-curricular activities and in the end a student may even decide to quit studies. Therefore, it is important that a choice should be given to the students to decide for themselves on what field, their lives would be based on and how the students are going to pursue their aims.