For many years there have been calls for schools to provide children with a ‘broad and balanced’ curriculum as part of their all-round development. This implies balancing sports, academics, social life and free time. However, there are still a number of students in schools who don’t get the opportunity to discover other areas of their lives besides academics. These limit them from exploring their talents and possibly grow in their line of passion and become successful in what they do.
Why balanced curriculum is important?
Balanced curriculum should be instilled in schools. In as much as academics play an important role in a person’s success, there are also other fields that some people have explored by nurturing their talents and succeeded. Some of them engage in sports such as football, volleyball, rugby, and athletics. Not to mention those that have ventured into music, dancing and film actors. These are professions that can be nurtured right from the primary school level. Kenya as a country is actually known for producing world renowned athletes.
There are many benefits of exploring talents in school, let me shed some light on three of them. Firstly, sports and discipline have proved to go hand in hand. Students who take part in co-curricular activities are more disciplined since the games they participate in entail rules. Under normal circumstances, a talented and disciplined student will do well in both. The balancing aspect is guided by discipline.
Secondly, co-curricular activities are a great pillar that schools should use to improve their academic performance. Pumping students with material all the time doesn’t help them much since they are prone to get bored and overworked. It is very crucial to have a timetable that gives students room to exercise their bodies and be in position to remember what they were taught. Co-curricular activities improve on the blood circulation and sharpen the brain which make the child, contrary to some parents’ beliefs, become sharper academically.
Thirdly, co-curricular activities make one special; especially today when almost everyone is trying to acquire formal education. These activities enable one to easily acquire popularity within and even outside school. This boosts their self esteem and makes them explore the gifts further.
About the writer
Mathew Kibet is our Content Associate and has three years’ experience teaching high school students. He is passionate in empowering young people through education.