The Role of Extracurricular Activities in Indian Boarding Schools

Parents are often adamant about keeping their children away from any activity apart from studying. It seems fitting, but it restricts holistic development in children. Academic learning in collaboration with extracurricular activities serves to be a necessary part of all private boarding schools in India. Outdoor education helps in building upon the theoretical learning imparted indoors and is essential in jogging up the brain functions and physical activities in students. Extracurricular activities are vital elements in the education system of top residential schools in India. Let us learn more about the role of extracurricular activities in Indian boarding schools.

What is the difference between boarding school and normal school?

Boarding schools are residential schools built to accommodate students’ academic and living needs of both national and international students. On the other hand, normal or day schools are focused on academic learning and operate for scheduled hours in a day. At boarding schools, students get to dine, lodge, study, live, and play together, and their routines are fixed and scheduled throughout the day. Boarding school students can go to their parents on weekends or vacations. Life at boarding schools builds a child for their future studies and life ahead by offering holistic developments in all aspects of life- mental, physical, social, spiritual and moral. Regular schools cannot accomplish as much as boarding schools due to their limited time and authority over children. At boarding schools, students are under the responsibility and care of mentors and staff and live a disciplined and fruitful life.

What is the curriculum at boarding schools?

Boarding schools are affiliated with different educational boards- CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, and IB boards. They can identify and fulfil national and international students’ academic and curricular needs. On average, all state, centre, and international boards focus on the holistic development of a child by introducing a progressive learning curriculum and extracurricular building. Students are offered a range of subjects such as English, Hindi, Science, Math, and Social sciences to polish their mental abilities and academic learning.

Measuring a boarding school’s progress and potential relies on the exposure and opportunities it can offer. The best boarding schools in India highlight students’ personal growth as much as their educational growth. Every boarding school aims to transform every child into a living model of leadership, discipline, values, and intellect. So, boarding schools adjust their curriculum to balance academic, extracurricular and cultural exchange programmes.

What activities do you do in boarding school?

Good boarding schools offer extracurricular exposure to students by providing them with opportunities to explore and polish their potential. Boarding schools are indeed known for their prime focus on academic learning, but at the same time, top boarding schools are building their infrastructure to accommodate extracurricular activities. Students must engage in other recreational activities besides studying to exercise their body and mind. Once the mind is fresh and sound, it becomes awake to learning and understanding, directly impacting students’ educational performance.

Top boarding schools in India offer a range of extracurricular activities ranging from music, art, dance, dramatics, taekwondo, chess, tennis, volleyball, football, cricket, swimming, community service, debate, etc. Not every school needs to entail all the listed activities, but groups a few to cover every extracurricular aspect. Competitions and events are a few ways that encourage students to come out of their shells and explore their potential.

What is the role of extracurricular activities in boarding schools?

Extracurricular activities at boarding schools boost practical learning intrapersonal, and interpersonal skills. It indirectly impacts academic learning processes and fosters holistic development in students. Extracurricular activities cannot be overlooked at boarding schools for various reasons. Let us learn about the role of extracurricular activities in student development.

1. Improves academic performance– Parents may often feel that playing outside and spending time on other activities wastes time. On the contrary, students who actively participate in extracurricular activities improve their academic performance by building their brain functions, endurance, and ability to defocus from other distractions and boosting concentration. Students participate in activities that interest them. For example- Students drawn towards literature are likely to participate in dramatics. It instructs them and provides them with an escape from mainstream learning simultaneously.

2. Builds self-confidence– Extracurricular exercise acts as a learning platform where students can grow and excel, thus boosting their self-confidence. To achieve academic excellence, students must be inspired and motivated enough to focus well and acquire knowledge imparted at schools. Students need to be disciplined, self-motivated and have confidence in themselves. Students get to work in a fun and relaxed environment while participating in other activities and are not pressured to ace it. This free environment boosts their performance and encourages them to get better in their life.

3. Serves as recreational breaks– Parents may pressurise their students to study all the time as they overlook the role of extracurricular activities in their ward’s mental and physical development. Everyone requires a break from their tasks to refresh their mind and jog their brain. Instead of spending extra time on smartphones and tablets, parents must encourage their students to be involved in co-curricular activities. Students with a zeal for involvement in other activities seldom get bored as they utilise their time in productive work instead of sitting ideally.

4. Social boost– Extracurricular activities bear great opportunities for social development as students living in Indian boarding schools stay together and are constantly surrounded by mentors, peers and staff. Organised and supervised by mentors and staff, students are often divided into groups and assigned exercises. They get to interact and learn more from each other. In this stage, students let go of their social anxiety and fear and build their social network through social interaction.

5. Develop critical thinking– Theoretical learning cannot challenge students to develop their thinking abilities. When students use their theoretical learning practically, they imbibe problem-solving, creative, cognitive and critical thinking abilities. By encouraging your ward to participate in extracurricular exercises, you allow them to get involved and face challenges. It helps in preparing students for their future.

6. Intrapersonal skill development– Personality development is a guaranteed result of extracurricular exposure. Self-discipline, adaptivity, leadership skills, time management, social communication, self-awareness, coping with distractions, and building emotional intelligence are among the few intrapersonal skills that students develop through practical learning. Students are put in a mentally stimulating environment that challenges them to think and grow to complete their tasks. For example- chess, football, swimming, etc., are a few activities that foster resilience and team spirit among students.

7. Exploring talents– Students must participate in extracurricular opportunities to realise their abilities. Students must explore their hidden talents and work to polish them to excel in their field. There are provisions for scholarships to students not just based on their academic performance but also based on extracurricular excellence. Therefore, parents must encourage their students to participate in every activity and event at school.

Why are extracurricular activities important in boarding schools?

1. It helps forge social bonds between peers and build acceptance towards multiple perspectives.

2. It fosters a globally-minded outlook since students from different backgrounds and cultures participate together.

3. It acts as a stress relief and helps students take their minds off the hectic academic schedule and re-energise themselves.

4. The best residential schools offer extracurricular exposure to boost future academic perspectives as colleges look for well-rounded individuals involved in other things apart from mainstream learning.

5. It helps in character development and building social skills and individuality simultaneously.

By knowing the role of extracurricular activities in the holistic development of students, parents become more informed and awake to encourage their students to strive to balance academic and extracurricular learning.

SKV is among the top 3 boarding schools in India dedicated to offering progressive and experiential learning to girls from class VI onwards. Extracurricular activities are as essential as theoretical learning and, therefore, provide a range of extracurricular-building exercises to encourage the holistic development of your child.