Revamping the Tripartite Learning Domains in Education; Basis for Co-Curricular activities in Nigerian Schools

Education is a process and a broad concept that surpasses the four walls of classroom. However, the core aim of education is to foster all round development, which is an educational program that considers the ‘3Hs’ (Head, Heart and Hand) or rather the cognitive, affective and the psychomotor objectives of education according to theorists of learning. Hence, this study investigates how co-curricular activities can actually complement the core-curriculum in the school and as well groom the students in the art of living and working together. This is an experimental study that employed co-curricular drill and practice rating scale and observation checklists verify and observe the process of involvement in co-curricular activities among basic education students. The sample involves intact class of Junior secondary school (JSS2) of University Demonstration Secondary School Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study employs inferential statistics with predictions for numerical outcomes at 0.05 level of significance to check for impact of co-curricular activities on the students’ cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills. The study lasts for Thirteen (13) weeks. Findings were based on T-test analysis of the data collected in the study. It was concluded that co-curricular activities are particularly good at providing opportunities for students to work in teams, to exercise leadership, to personally take initiative and above all prepare students practically for the future. The study suggests a framework by which school activities can be designed to create a chance for all round development of the child.