allAfrica.com: Mauritius: Let's go for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities (Page 1 of 1)

During the holidays, teenage students are involved in a project to increase civic awareness. The ministry wishes all education stakeholders to feel concerned and get involved.

The project "Citizen Mauritius" was aimed at changing teaching trends. It was launched in March 2006 as a pilot project at Form IV level in colleges from the centre and the west.

School isn't just about academics. It's in the first instance about educating youngsters to help them become responsible citizens. And the best way to achieve this goal is through practical initiatives that go beyond textbooks. Unfortunately, all parents don't appraise activities other than those based on books.

"It is not always possible to incorporate all emerging education issues in the curricula. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are organized and offered to supplement what school syllabi do not or cannot provide", points out Dharam Gokhool, minister of Education, in a booklet that will be sent to all schools in the near future.

For the first time, in a bid to address this component of learning in an organized and structured manner, the ministry launches this booklet of "co curricular & extra curricular school projects". The purpose is to help schools "operate in a coherent, rational and purposeful approach towards organizing such activities" with the wish to convince heads of schools to take on board opportunities of co-curricular or extra-curricular activities and motivate school participation.

The ministry is of the view that "all stakeholders of the education sector should be fully conscious of the value of those activities in the context of supporting curriculum goals so as to attain an overall development of students during their school life".

One person, who certainly doesn't need to be convinced is Yugesh Panday, rector of Lady Sushil Ramgoolam State Secondary School, located in Triolet. "Those kinds of projects are of real importance for students. Our school organizes and participates regularly in such initiatives and every time my pupils are really keen to take part.

Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities give an extra dimension to school life and it really has a pedagogical value. It's important to develop the personality of the child and to develop certain skills." And the best way to achieve this is through such activities.

But, it can sometimes be a real pain to convince teachers and parents who think that schools are not meant for leisure. "Some parents just do not understand the purpose behind and the gain for the child, but I think that the majority do believe in those activities and are convinced that they contribute to develop the capacities of their children", explains a teacher who works in a national college.

Yugesh Panday thinks the rector has an important role to play. "When parents are not convinced, it is the role of the school to make them understand the benefits." School leaders, teachers and students should be fully aware of the value and quality of extra-curricular activities and the desired impact on students.

"Purposeful and well-organised participation in local and international extra-curricular activities are means and ways to link up school experiences to life situations in the community and enhance learning opportunities to meet challenges of life. It is hoped that the heads of schools will take on board the opportunities offered", wishes Dharam Gokhool.

The rector has an important role to play. "When parents are not convinced, it is the role of the school to make them understand the benefits."

Several researches tend to prove that extra-curricular activities benefit students in many ways. First, they provide and instruct students with lessons that will last them a lifetime. They also point out that those involved in such activities receive better grades then those who are not involved. Extra-curricular activities help to build character, acquire lifelong skills; save some at-risk students who would possibly drop out of school and helps develop social skills.

Through those activities, pupils also learn that they can make a difference and contribute to society. They also learn teamwork and leadership skills that may be even more important in the long run than some of the academic subjects they study. Last but not least, the self-esteem and sense of purpose that children can get from serious involvement in extra-curricular activities may help raise their aspirations and give them a reason to say "no" to risky behaviours.

Heads of school will be the driving force in the implementation of the projects on the ministry's calendar. More than ten major co/extra-curricular school projects have been identified for the end of this year and for 2008. Following the success of the pilot project "Bridging the gap between school and the world of work", by the Human Resource Development Council and the ministry of Education several months ago, they will tomorrow launch a large-scale project involving some 1,000 students of Lower VI and pre-vocationalduring the school holidays of November and December.

The aim is here to "inculcate professional attitudes and develop values related to work environment" and show students what the work environment is really like. Next year, several popular activities will be renewed. The National Debate Competition, Innoved, Project Citizen Mauritius or National Science Challenge are certainly going to have a major response.

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