The effects of extracurricular activities on Academic progress in grade 7 students in Mont La Salle School

النوع : Mémoire

This study is an attempt to measure the effects of extracurricular activities on academic progress at Mont La Salle Secondary School. It shows a correlation between students participating in extracurricular activities and progress in the academic learning process. A survey has been made on the students of Grade 7, their parents and their teachers. For each, a research questionnaire was administered. The study was conducted to compare the academic progress of the students’ involvement in extracurricular activities and those who are not. The sample was formed of 129 students (87 males and 42 females). Two groups of 7th grade youth were considered regarding their involvement or not involvement in extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities were categorized into four groups: individual sports, collective sports, scouts and art. The grades of these students were regrouped according to their commitment or not in extracurricular activities, gender, by kind of activity, and parental characteristics. No significant differences regarding academic progress were generally noticed. Although for this group, there was not any harmful influence on academic performance, there was a possible correlation between extracurricular activities and academic progress, positive influence of parents who believe in extracurricular activities, high attendance at school, low interest of the parents regarding their children academic excellence, better influence of arts and personal sport and scouts than collective sports regarding academic progress, poor interest of the teachers toward their students’ involvement in extracurricular activities, and poor motivation of the students for academic excellence.