I AM a little bit disappointed about the announcement of the Department of Education (DepEd) to ban extracurricular activities for the school year 2022-2023, to address the “learning gaps” caused by the CoViD-19 pandemic.
I’m just wondering if a prohibition on these activities is the best response to the gloomy performance of Grade 4 and Grade 8 Filipino students as demonstrated in the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, where our country ranked lowest among 58 participating nations.
During my student years, I managed to stay a consistent academic scholar, but truthfully, I was never confined to just the four walls of the classroom. I was also a product of a string of extra-curricular activities that helped shaped me as an individual.
I must admit, those rigorous but fulfilling years of joining extra-curricular activities developed in me leadership skills, sportsmanship, humility in victory, and magnanimity in defeat. My love for country was also nurtured, and compassion for the needy.
In short, extra-curricular activities make students become rounded individuals when they get out of the school gates and depart to the world of work.
But why do our children need these activities?
Interactions with others
When children engage in activities outside the home or school, they’re exposed to other individuals. They get to know how other people behave, including how to work together in a team sport, learn new things, and how to be fair and just by following rules and guidelines.
Skills development
Extracurricular activities enhance skills children already possess, or learn new abilities they don’t have. These activities can help them expand their knowledge of what’s available to them in the world, such as different forms of art, music, literature, and sports. The more stimuli provided to children, the more well-rounded their worldview becomes.
Chance for problem-solving
One of the greatest aspects of extracurricular activities is that they provide an avenue for children to find solutions to problems. For instance, when children are playing team sports, they learn how to find ways to score goals, how to cooperate with other kids to win, and how to ask for help when they need it. Communicating with others is one of the most important benefits extracurricular activities can offer children.
Exploring other cultures
The more social situations children become involved in, the more exposure they’ll get to other races, ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds of different people from all over the globe. When a child has an opportunity to view people who are different from them as equals sharing in a common activity, tolerance, and curiosity about other cultures beyond what they’re used to are fostered.
Creative opportunities
Besides helping build confidence and skills in children, extra-curricular activities offer kids an opportunity to engage in activities that might not be possible at home. For instance, if a child is interested in painting, parents might not have all the available materials and equipment at home. Enrolling children in an extra-curricular art or painting class can expand their horizons and provide them the needed outlet for their interests.
Time-management skills inculcated
Learners adding more commitment to their already packed schedules can expand their time-management skills. They can multitask better and do more in 24 hours. Students who have coursework to complete and are also part of various extracurricular activities can successfully balance both. Surprisingly, these students are also able to finish their homework with a refreshed mind.
My Call
I am still hopeful that the Department of Education will change its mind. I am calling all parents to encourage their children to engage in sports or the arts, or any intellectually-emotionally fulfilling activities to fill up their extra time.
While academics are an important aspect of a child’s total development, it isn’t everything. Children need to pursue other interests that will make them happier individuals later on.
We don’t want to produce fact-spewing robots, do we?
