Abstract
This paper got the idea that co-curricular activities bring the positive influence on the academic achievement. Participation in a co-curricular activity programme requires successful performance in academices. To know the level of co-curricular participation of history under gradutes with references to sex, age, locality, type of colleges, accommodation and a mass media. This trend may continue throughout life as the skills learned at the age form ripples.
Key word: Co-curricular activities, Academic achievement, Participation, Education, Undergraduates, History and successful.
Introduction
Academic achievement is determined by certain cognitive and non-cognitive factors. Thus along with intelligence, other non-cognitive factors such as personality, socio-economic status, values, study habits and gender and also factors for causing differences in achievement. Co-curricular activities consist of those activities which are carried on outside the class room. These activities develop the emotional health of the students. Co-curricular activities serve service in the academic ,social, physical and cognitive development of students and every student should have the opportunity to participate in atleast one activity that suits his or her personality.
Significance of the study
Co-curricular activities are one of the sources for the development of values in students.Apart from developing their creativity, co-curricular activities impart the values of democratic living,responsibility co-operation, tolerance and secularism.
It is obvious that co-curicular activities will contribute to the academic performance of the college students.
This study considered is to be very helpful in the maintenance of good mental health, and to ensure social, cultural, moral, aesthetic and physical development. They provide opportunities for training in leadership, citizenship and for development of self discipline.
At present these activities are intrinsic part of the total educational endeavour in the educational institutions. They have formed an integral part of the regular curriculum. Curricuar and co-curricular programmes are in fast complementary to each other, both deserving equal weight age and emphasis in the total educational programme.
All students should have equal opportunities to participate in such activities .All activities should be organized in keeping with the tradition and ideals of the institutions .Education is generally understood us only academic achievement and nothing else. Achievement in co-curricular activities as taken as something extra, over and above the academic performance of students.
Having thus analysed, the investigator has chosen the present topic as her field of investigation.
Method of the study
Researcher has used survey method for conducting the present investigation. The survey method is concerned with conditions or relationship that co-curricular participation and academic achievement.
Objectivities of the study
Every researcher has objectives proceed in his research work. Ojectives help the researcher to achieve goal. To make the study a systematic and a fruitful one, the investigator has formed the following objectives:
To know the level of co-curricular participation of history undergraduates with reference to sex, age, locality, type of college, accommodation and mass media.
To know the level of academic achievement history undergraduates with the reference to sex, age, community, religion, type of college, locality, accommodation and usage of mass media.
To find out significant difference in co-curricular participation and academic achievement of history undergraduates with reference to their gender, age, accommodation, rural and urban, type of college parents monthly income ,usage of mass media, parents education, community, religion and parents occupation.
To find out significant association of parents occupation with respect to (a)co-curricular participation(b)academic achievement.
To find out the significant relation, if any, between co-curricular participation and academic achievement in terms of sex, age, accommodation, locality, type of college, parents monthly income, usage of mas media, parents education, religion, community and parents occupation.
Tools used
The investigator has found out that questionnaire will be the most suitable one for her present study. The questionnaire used for this investigation included forty four questions and they were divided in to six dimensions such as sports &games, Nss, fine-arts, crafts, Ncc and literary association. The respondents were to answered as strongly agree/agree/disagree/strongly disagree. Which was prepared by the investigator herself with the guidance of the research guide and other experts in the field of education.
Population
The population of the study comprises the undergraduate history students studying in third year in Arts and Science colleges affiliated to Manonmaniyam sundaranar university formed the population. Nine colleges located in three districts like Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari were included for this investigation.
Sample
The sample of the present study comprised of 270 undergraduates students is taken through “Random Sampling”.
Statistical Techniques used
The investigator has used the statistical techniques such as Mean, SD, Percentage Analysis and ‘r’,Anova, Chi square, Pearson’s Product moment correlation.
De-limitations of the Study
The sample has been limited to 270 students achievement marks of their previous semester exams were taken for the study. The study is limited to college majoring in history undergraduate students only. Moreover the investigator has selected only 3 districts (Kanyakumari,Trinelveli and Tuticorin) and9 colleges like Arignar Anna college, WCC college, Scottx,ar college, Rani Anna college, Sathakthula Appa college, Sarah Tucker, Kamaraj College, St. Mary, Scollege, and Pope college.
Analysis of Data
There is no significant relationship between co-curricular participation with respect to background variables, such as a)gender, b)age, c)community, d)religion, e)accommodation, f)locale, g)type of college, h)parends, education, i)parends monthly income and usage of massmedia.
TABLE- Relationship between co-curricular participation and academic achievement
| S.NO | Variable | ∑X | ∑X2 | ∑Y | ∑Y2 | ∑XY | Table value | Calculated value | Remarks at 5% level | |
| 1. | Gender | Male | 93041 | 1121113 | 3820 | 213016 | 511140 | 0.139 | 0.021 | NS |
| Female | 27558 | 3894016 | 11142 | 635428 | 1535147 | 0.139 | 0.003 | NS | ||
| 2. | Age | 19&20 | 6830 | 907206 | 3041 | 178225 | 392153 | 0.276 | 0.026 | NS |
| 21&22 | 30069 | 4267923 | 11921 | 670219 | 1654134 | 0.139 | 0.058 | NS | ||
| 3. | Community | OC | 1810 | 255010 | 678 | 36416 | 94526 | 0.553 | 0.072 | NS |
| BC | 17799 | 2472831 | 7133 | 396757 | 970537 | 0.139 | 0.64 | S | ||
| SC | 4764 | 682446 | 7922 | 111222 | 271309 | 0.276 | 0.312 | S | ||
| 4. | Religion | Hindu | 4473 | 659413 | 1723 | 98687 | 248766 | 0.361 | 0.024 | NS |
| Muslims | 24400 | 3371386 | 10122 | 574928 | 1356299 | 0.254 | 0.021 | NS | ||
| Christians | 8026 | 1144330 | 3117 | 174829 | 441222 | 0.254 | 0.295 | S | ||
| 5. | Accommodation | Non hostlers | 26810 | 3793242 | 10595 | 592371 | 1468776 | 0.139 | 0.132 | NS |
| Hostlers | 10089 | 1381887 | 4367 | 256073 | 577511 | 0.220 | 0.149 | NS | ||
| 6. | Locale | Rural | 19325 | 2659479 | 8198 | 374326 | 950531 | 0.139 | 0.022 | NS |
| Urban | 17574 | 2515650 | 6764 | 374326 | 274802 | 0.361 | 0.122 | NS | ||
| 7. | Type of college | Private | 4828 | 778446 | 11142 | 635428 | 1535147 | 0.139 | 0.091 | NS |
| Government | 27558 | NS | ||||||||
| 8. | Parents monthly income | Below Rs.5000/- | 21048 | 2967858 | 8446 | 475946 | 1164308 | 0.139 | 0.091 | NS |
| Rs.5000/- toRs.100000/- | 11087 | 1524825 | 4594 | 261296 | 610670 | 0.220 | 0.171 | NS | ||
| Above Rs.1000/- | 4764 | 682446 | 1922 | 111222 | 271309 | 0.333 | 0.323 | NS | ||
| 9. | Parents Education | Illiterate | 4473 | 659413 | 1723 | 98687 | 248766 | 0.361 | 0.024 | NS |
| School | 24400 | 3371386 | 10122 | 574928 | 1356299 | 0.254 | 0.021 | NS | ||
| College | 8026 | 1144330 | 3117 | 174829 | 441222 | 0.254 | 0.295 | S | ||
| 10. | Parents Occupation | Farmer | 4093 | 603971 | 1561 | 90002 | 227828 | 0.374 | 0.125 | NS |
| Private | 15184 | 6382 | 2134674 | 370030 | 867895 | 0.196 | 0.120 | NS | ||
| Government | 11242 | 1555168 | 4458 | 245982 | 601561 | 0.220 | 0.155 | NS | ||
| 11. | Usage of Mass Media | News paper | 1197 | 150221 | 516 | 26896 | 60794 | 0.632 | 0.709 | S |
| TV | 22609 | 3156793 | 9337 | 537091 | 1272327 | 0.139 | 0.022 | NS | ||
| Internet Browsing | 13093 | 1868115 | 5109 | 284457 | 713166 | 0.208 | 0.089 | NS | ||
BC Includes Backward Class and Most Backward Class .NS-Not significant S-Significant
∑x = Sum of x scores, ∑y = sum of y scores, ∑x2= sum of squared y scores, ∑y2= sum of squared y scores
∑xy=sum of the product of pairs of z and y
Findings and interpretations
From the analysis of collected data, it is clear that female students perform .In all the dimension of co-curricular activities such as sports and games, Nss, fine arts, arts and crafts, Ncc, and literary association majority (about60%) of the college students had average level of participation in co-curricular activities irrespective of their gender, age, accommodation, locale, type of college and usage of mass media.
Interpretation
The findings of the present study reveal that the participation in co-curricular activites is positively related with academic achievement of the history undergraduates if they had the practice of reading newspaper, college educated parents following in the categories of BC/SC communities.
Conclusion:
From this study, we conclude that participation in co-curricular acivities provides important outlets for college students in todays world. It provides them with challenges alternative resources and life long learning experiences. It also teaches them how to co-operate and work as a single unit which is a vital strength needed in todays work force. It is also evident that the extra time spent on these activities ,is positively associated with academic achievement, This trend may continue throught life as the skills learned at young age form ripples.
References:
Aggarwal Y P. (1990) “Statistical method, concepts application and competitions” New Delhi: Sterling Publishers.
Bakshi, K.D. (1991) “Physical Education in Delhi Schools CIE”. Fourth survey of research in education” vol. II, New Delhi
Best, John W.(2006).Research in education, New Delhi: Prentice Hall.
Coffman, Chad David, “The Perception of new students extra-curricular activities”. Dissertation Abstracts International, 63, No.1, July (2002) 43-A.
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[1] Asst/ prof. of history, Govt Arts College for Women, Salem-8
[2] Research scholar, voc college-Tuticorin.
