ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate learners’ participation in extra curricular activities in public secondary schools in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State. More specifically, the study was conducted to assess the influence of specific extra curricular activities that are undertaken in public secondary schools, that is, soccer, athletics and music in order to investigate whether participation in those extra curricular activities had an influence on the academic performance of students both positively and negatively. This study employed Astin’s theory of involvement which posits that students learn more when they are involved in both the academic and social aspects of the collegiate experience. The study therefore, adopted the concurrent mixed methods design that sought to process the use of both quantitative and qualitative data. The target population of the study comprised of students, extra curricular activities teachers and principals of public secondary schools in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State. Students were selected through cluster and stratified sampling, while teachers and principals were selected through purposive sampling because it targeted only extra curricular teachers and principals of the selected schools. Cluster sampling of students was based on girls and boys in their respective schools, whereby, they were put in their homogenous cluster. The basis of stratification was schools in the position of national, extra-state and LGA schools. Thereafter, simple random sampling was used to select individual respondent. Primary data was collected through questionnaires for students and extra curricular activities teachers, and interview schedules for the principals. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, that is frequencies, standard deviation and mean and also, SPSS was employed. Three forms of validity were conducted, that is face, content and criterion validity, while reliability of the questionnaire scales was achieved by computing Cronbach’s alpha coefficients on data collected through piloting of developed questionnaire among students and teachers drawn from public secondary schools in the neighbouring Kongelai Division. The overall finding of the current study is that participation in extra curricular activities has potential to influence students’ academic performance in a positive way although other factors play important roles. The influence of extra curricular activities on academic performance could be attributed to its ability to stimulate physical and mental health, social wellbeing and cognitive growth. Several conclusions were made regarding learner participation in extra curricular activities and their academic performance as follows: public secondary schools in Nasarawa LGA take extra curricular activities seriously knowing their utility in learners’ holistic development; participation in athletics stimulate fine and gross motor growth, learner concentration and cognitive development; participation in soccer has a positive influence on academic performance and has potential to stimulate learner concentration in academic disciplines; participation in music influences learners’ communication skills. The study suggests that schools to create more fields to allow various extra curricular activities take place, teachers too should encourage learners to choose at least one co- curricular activity, also extra curricular activities should be embraced if talents are to be fully exploited in learners, and the study recommends that similar studies should be replicated in public secondary schools in other divisions in the State so as to improve on generalizability of the findings. Therefore, the finding of this research study will help community, parents, teachers, principals and educational officers in enhancing students’ educational achievements at secondary schools in Kano State and Nigeria at large.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY
1.0 Overview
This chapter gives the background of the study; the statement of the problem; the purpose and objectives of the study. It also develops the questions that were used in the study, the study assumptions, the scope, limitation and delimitation, as well as the significance of the study. The chapter provides the theoretical and conceptual framework that guided the study, as well as the definition of operational terms used in the study.
1.1 Background of the Study
History of extra curricular activities in schools show that educators were skeptical of participation in extra curricular activities, believing that school should focus solely on narrowly defined academic outcomes. Non academic activities were viewed as being primarily recreational and therefore were detrimental to academic achievement and consequently were discouraged (Marsh & Kleitman, as cited in Coakley, 2024). Deam and Bear, the early experts on extra curricular activities, said, extra curricular activities supplement and extend those contacts and experiences found in the more formal part of the program of the school day (Millard, 1930). It was not until recently that Educational practitioners and researchers have taken a more positive perspective arguing that extra curricular activities may have positive effects in life skills and may also benefit academic accomplishment, (Marsh & Kleitman, as cited in Coakley, 2024). Extra curricular activities have an impact on academic performance and education in general ever since their inception. Concern is on the influence of co- curricular activities on academic performance today in schools in Kano State because there are some students who participate in extra curricular activities yet there is little research done on influence of their participation in co-curriculum activities on academic performance.
Studies have been conducted concerning the relationship between extra curricular activities and academic performance Total Extracurricular Activity Participation (TEAP) or participation in extra curricular activities in general, is association with an improved grade point average (GPA), higher educational aspirations, increased college attendance and reduced absenteeism (Cilesiz & Drotos, 2014). Kariyana, Maphosa & Mapuranga (2017) in looking at the previous research on this subject, the researchers have found positive associations between extra curricular participation and academic achievement; although researchers agree that extra curricular activities do, in fact, influence academic performance. Study conducted by the national educational longitudinal study, found that participation in some activities improves achievement, while participation in others diminishes achievement (Cilesiz & Drotos, 2014).
Extra curricular activities have been divided into informal and formal activities. The formal activities include activities which are relatively structured such as participation in athletics or learning to play music instruments. Informal activities, on other hand, also known as leisure activities includes less structured activities, such as watching television. Some literature on leisure studies has suggested that formal and informal activities setting have different influences on motivation and feelings of competence, two factors which influence academic performance (Kariyana, Maphosa & Mapuranga (2017). Study carried out found that more time in leisure activities was related to poorer academic grades, poorer work habits, and poorer emotional adjustments, while more time in structured groups and less time watching T.V were associated with higher test scores and school grades (Livazovic, 2010). This study investigated influence of learners’ participation in extra curricular activities on their academic performance in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State.
Therefore, this study was important in Kano State because findings showed that participation in extra curricular activities influence academic performance in a positive way; it is not a precursor to academic performance. Therefore, there is still more need to do research on influence of learners’ participation in co-curriculum activities on academic performance in schools of Kano State. It was also noted that there are some prominent footballers, athletes and musician in Kano State, in the research findings there was no significant different in scores obtained by students who participate in extra curricular activities and those who do not, therefore learners should not be compelled to participate in extra curricular activities with the imagination of improving performance but rather gain physical fitness and to stimulate mental growth; hence it was of importance to carry a research to get findings of influence of learners’ participation in co-curriculum activities on academic performance in public secondary schools in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Investment in education has been seen as a key element in development process, as it enhance skills, knowledge and motivation needed for social economic development (Rafiei, & Davari, 2015). The normal curriculum can only go so far as to teach and educate students theoretically. But students whose only experience of school or
college is one of rigid academic study may not be able to apply what they have learned in practice. If the extra curricular activities were given an equal footing in student life, there will be an improvement in the student ability to grasp things as a whole, because students will have received a more rounded education. Extra curricular activities are particularly good at providing opportunities for students to work in teams, to exercise leadership, and to take the initiative themselves.
Although schools are concerned with the students’ sufficient development in both academic and social aspects, somehow more efforts have been given to their academic performance (LaFontana, & Cillessen, 2010).). In Kano State, the researcher has not come across studies that indicate the influence of learners’ participation in co- curricular activities on academic performance. A consensus on whether or not a student participating in extra curricular activities such as soccer, music and athletics, will have a positive or negative effect on academic performance has not been reached.
Through CCA, student discovers their talents while developing values and competencies that will prepare them for a rapid changing world. CCA also promote friendships among students from diverse backgrounds as they learn, play and grow together. Participating in CCA fosters social integration and deepens students’ sense of belonging, commitment and sense of responsibility to school, community and nation. The concern of this study was to investigate influence of learners’ participation in extra curricular activities on academic performance in public secondary schools in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State.
1.3. Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this research was to establish the influence of learners’ participation in extra curricular activities on academic performance in public secondary schools in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State.
1.4. Objective of the Study
i) Identify the types and framework of extra curricular activities available to students in public secondary schools in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State.
ii) Establish the influence of participation in athletics on students’ academic performance
iii) Determine the influence of student participation in soccer on students’ academic performance
iv) Find out the influence of participation of students’ in music on academic performance
v) Compare academic performance of students who participate in co- curricular activities and those who do not participate.
1.5. Research Questions
i) What is the factor structure of extra curricular activities available to students in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State?
ii) How does students’ participation in athletics influence their academic performance in Secondary schools in Kano State?
iii) How does students’ participation in soccer influence their academic performance in Secondary schools in Kano State?
iv) What is the influence of participation in music on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State?
v) Is there any difference in students’ academic performance between students participating in extra curricular activities and those who do not participate?
1.6 Scope of the Study
The academic scope of this study is curriculum studies and instruction delimited to extra curricular activities and particularly music, soccer and athletics. Consequently the findings of study were interpreted in relation to the extra curricular activities as opposed to the main curriculum. The geographical scope of the study was public secondary schools delimited to Kano State, and further narrowed down to Nasarawa LGA.
1.7 Significant of the Study
This study provides some information regarding the issue of extra curricular activities and whether they benefits or hinder the academic performance of students who participate. Also, research concerning the influence of extra curricular activities on academic performance should be compared to the perception of extra curricular activities outside school. This research will be useful in state in various offices like that of quality Assurance Officer (QASO), curriculum developers, and policy developers, school principals, and patrons of extra curricular activities, learners, teachers and parents.
1.8 Justification for the Study
The present study has the potential to help learners, teachers, parents, stakeholders, state government and national government to identify the influences of co- curricular participation on academic performance so as to improve on those areas with negative influences to be of good use to the consumer. In addition, a policy document will be developed to help extra curricular activities be integrated in the school syllabus.
1.9 Assumption of the Study
In this study, the following assumptions were made: a) all secondary students in Nigeria are allowed to participate in at least one extra curricular activity in school without being coerced according to the Ministry of Education advice on extra curricular activities in schools, b) all learners have equal chance of participating in any co- curricular activity in the school, c) all the respondents will be willing and co-operative to provide reliable information. Questions pertaining on the result obtained from the study were deemed to be of good use to the principals of schools to identify factors affecting students’ performance and the result of the research carried out will be used by management in its planning purposes.
1.10 Operational Definition of Terms
In the study the key terms used are defined as follows:-
Extra curricular activities: extra curricular activities in the present study were operationalized as soccer, music, and athletics
Influence: the present study operationalized influence to mean the power co- curricular activities have on student’s ability to elicit change in their academics.
Correlates: correlates were viewed as the interrelationships between the individual extra curricular activities and learner performance.
Academic Performance: The operational meaning for academic performance in the present study was scores students’ achieved in CATs and end of term examinations for term one, term two and term three.
Learners: refers to Students who constitute the class, the person on whose behalf educational performance exist and operate
Participation: in the present study, participation was used to address students’ involvement in extra curricular activities either in the school or outside school.
Public schools: schools that are found and run by the Government.
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