Promoting co-curricular activities in school. Respected ..

I am thankful to our principal for providing me this opportunity to speak on one of the most important topic in educational systems today. The function of education is to bring change in child behavior and personality in a more desirable form. Development of childs body and mind demand proper nurturing of its physical and intellectual qualities as few of the major determinants of his personality. Therefore, modern approaches of education emphasize on all round development of the child. Co-curricular activities underpin the goal of teaching students to be responsible and fulfilled human beings with opportunities that develop character, critical thinking, social skills, and talents. Participation in co-curricular activities improves an adolescent's chances of avoiding such risky behaviors as dropping out, becoming a teenage parent, engaging in delinquency, smoking, or abusing drugs or alcohol through three mechanisms, according to Zill, Nord, and Loomis (1995): Time displacement: the widely held notion that if a young person spends a great deal of time in beneficial or harmless activities, he or she will not have time to get into mischief. Commitment building: the argument that participation in constructive activities, by developing skills, creating aspirations, and providing rewarding experiences, strengthens a young person's commitment to conventional institutions, such as school, and traditional career pathways. Group pressure: the idea that participation in teams, clubs, or other group activities promotes a sense of membership or belonging. Todays graduate job market is one of the most competitive we've ever seen. Employers are expecting graduates to not only have the knowledge of their industry but also toPossess sound communication skills one to one and in groups, demonstrate capable ethical leadership, be active stewards of the environment with a focus on the future. The formal education providers like schools seems like a logical and convenient setting for students to learn and experience leadership & other soft skills and this can be achieved through combining the curricular and co-curricular activities. So what can Schools do to provide further development opportunities to complement the academic curriculum?

Lets bury the term extracurricular activities. Extra implies something not necessary and suggests that student activities are just fun and games, which makes it easy for them to be dismissed or removed. Activities are school sponsored programs and should be thought of and referred to as co-curricular. Principals and faculty members who serve as advisers have an obligation to ensure that students are learning something by participation in an activity. Of course, student activities should be enjoyable, but there are also valuable skills and lessons that can be taught to those who participate, such as goal setting, communication, organization, decision making, teamwork, conflict resolution, and tolerance. These are sometimes thought of as leadership skills, but they are really life skills that can be practiced as part of a club or organization and complement what is taught in the classroom. The curriculum enables students to develop their subject knowledge and co-curriculum helps in a range of complementary capabilities. Co-curriculum may be broadly grouped under 1. Literary Activities 2. Physical Development Activities 3. Artistic and Cultural Development Activities 4. Civic Development Activities 5. Social Welfare Activities 6. Leisure Time Activities 7. Excursion Activities The different types Co-Curricular activities are : Morning assembly programmes/ Inter-House competitions /House meetings/English recitation/Hindi calligraphy/ English calligraphy/On the spot drawing & painting competition/Group singing /Solo singing / rhymes/Quiz competitions/Moot (debatable) courts/Rangoli competitions/Individual talent show/Guest talk / slide show/Fancy dress/Various activity clubs/NCC - NSS/School band/Scout association/Girl guides/Performing arts/ /Annual functions/National sporting competitions/Youth festivals etc.,. This is a not an exhaustive list.

I strongly believe that given the right tools, students will thrive in taking charge of their own development, but to help them do this, we need to reassess our role as education providers. We should not just provide the opportunities for students to achieve good academic results but actively promote the benefits of a wider curriculum to students. After all, schools should be seen as a transformative experience through which students can prepare themselves to succeed in the many and varied roles they will undertake in future life. We have to invest resources to offer a comprehensive range of co-curricular activities, be it sports, societies, or volunteering. We need to encourage students to recognize the value of these activities as part of their development in other words co-curricular, not extra-curricular. Co-curricular activities foster success in later life. Participation in high school activities is often a predictor of later successin college, in the workplace, and in society (NFHS 1999). Students are to be encouraged to engage with the activities like, ambassador roles, peer mentoring, membership of a subject-related society, participation in open days or schools liaison work, thematic practical workshops and online seminars. It may seem like a small change, but by demonstrating to students that we view these activities as equally important to academic study, we encourage participation. What's more, many of these activities are to be formally recognized on the student's Achievement Record. I am happy to be part of a school which believes A healthy mind in a healthy body is the key to all-round development and is ensured through various leisure activities and physical sports. I am proud to say our school attaches great importance to co-curricular activities and thankful for the efforts of the Principal and Management to provide best learning experience to students and professional satisfaction to the teachers. We are pleased with the increasing numbers of students engaging with co-curricular and development activities. Going to school is no longer seen as a rite of passage by this generation it is a well-considered investment. We regard our students not as customers but as learning partners, encouraging them to take control of their academic and personal development to shape their own future. Thank you everyone.