Extra curricular-necessity or a Portfolio line?
Thursday 11th of January 2018 12:00Creativity in the classroom from the students depends upon the opportunities available to the child. Limited creative opportunities lead the student to make use of outside camps which costs extra. Many parents are unable to afford the rising costs of Education and balance them out with additional costs. Therefore, they resort to letting their children focus on their education. Extracurricular activities help children make positive utilisation of their energy. It is important to understand that school life is not only about education, it is also about exploring options and talents so that the graduating student is not just a qualified individual but an educated, well-rounded individual. Schools that take notice of children talents can help guide the students better. Understanding what the strengths and weaknesses are of a student can help teach the student better. It will also help teach students as per their learning abilities and retain their attention. Budgeting and cost-cutting techniques by the school have resulted in slashing art projects, and therefore students are attending lesser activities and thereby increasing the chances of television binging. This results in a cycle of being lethargic when it comes going outside and indulging in physical activities. On a future darker note, the children’s health becomes problematic as a result. It can lead to pressing matters such as obesity, diabetics, etc. Co-curricular activities supplement the course and give a chance for students to participate and speak their opinion. At times, co-curricular activities help in giving a practical understanding to a theoretical subject. It adds value to the theoretical knowledge. Extra and co-curricular activities are great on your CV especially when you are applying to universities both local and abroad. Extracurricular activities can be a great way to understand what the student’s likes and dislikes are regarding a career. They would get a better understanding of what their options are in terms of the career and what are the possible subjects they need to take for achieving their goal. Positive interaction with students adds to their interest in particular subjects. It relaxes the mind of the student and makes them eager to learn more. Check to see if the school you are looking at, provides the necessary activities and environment for your child to grow. Look into the teachers who are part of the activities program. Are they qualified to train children? What is their background in the said field? What is the schedule for the students who have AP classes or extra classes? Would they be provided marks for the activities? These questions help understand whether the students who take up the activities need to take everything that is scheduled or only ones that interest them.