Inclusion of extracurricular activities

In most of our schools and colleges, there is little emphasis on co-curricular activities, sports and other recreational activities. Both teachers and parents constantly pressure students to remain focused on academic education and achieve good grades. Most schools do not have their own playgrounds let alone funds for sports and recreational activities.

Sports should be particularly integrated with all school curricula as it improves both physical and mental health of students. It is essential to foster teamwork and decision-making abilities, which can contribute to their interpersonal skills and support them later in their professional lives. Physical activity such as running or playing a game improves memory, brain functioning, quality of sleep, and reduces anxiety and depression. Similarly, activities such as singing or drawing can also offer a form of relief to students.

Unfortunately, in our country students with creative skills or talent in sports are always discouraged. These fields are stereotyped as a pastime or hobby. This kind of mentality should come to an end and we must encourage all schools to incorporate some form of extracurricular activities into their curricula.

Afroza Sheikh,

Dania, Dhaka,

[email protected]