Chapter+2

2.0 Literature Review In the previous chapter, we discuss the fundamental of our research and the background of the study of our project. To provide a clearer understanding on the importance of co-curricular activity requires a detailed discussion. Discussion about the benefit of co-curricular activity, student’s acceptance and point of view towards co-curricular activity, and also effort on improving co-curricular activities to encourage students to join them.

Benefit of Co-curricular Activity Nowadays, co-curricular activity has become an important element in education system anywhere in the world. Today, we are living in a borderless and globalize world. The global economy is becoming competitive and increasingly dominated by information and communication technologies (Carroy, 1995). This scenario has instigated institution of higher learning to have new and holistic approach in the academic co-curricular. Co-curricular provide overall social development of students through leadership and team working activities. Previous studies reveal that students’ involvement in co-curricular activities makes them stay in school and improve retention rates. A study done by Davalos, Shavez and Guardiola (1999) showed the effect of extra curricular activities in students’ dropout rates in school for Mexican-American youths. These results support the argument that co-curricular activity involvement may provide individuals with a sense of belonging that may contribute to higher retention rates for these individuals (Oliver, 1995; Zill, 1995).

Student’s Acceptance and Point of View Towards Co-curricular Activity Students nowadays are all burden by examinations, assignments, homework, projects and tuition until they have no extra time to take part in co-curricular activity. A report on The Condition of Education, United States, Department of Education, National Centre for Education Statistics in 1995 found that participation in co-curricular activity may affect academic performance, attachments to school and social development. This causes students to lose their interests in taking part in co-curricular activity. Gradually, the importance of co-curricular activity becomes insignificant.

Effort on Improving Co-curricular Activity Efforts are being conducted by the government to attract students. Government is making co-curricular activities more relax and fun. The school programmes, provide experiences that are important to the development of individual students. The developmental position is more egalitarian in its assertion that the development of all individuals must be considered when planning a school programme. Non-academic programmes as well as academic programmes facilitate the development of the individual (Holland and Andre 1987). But improvement will not happen if students’ participations are still low. Government should increase the percentage of passing co-curricular activities which is a requirement to enter University. This effort will ensure co-curricular will be regarded as an important element in academic system in our country.