STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL

Abstract

The study examined the influence of extra-curricular activities on the academic performance of students in Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State. The population of the study consisted of the entire two hundred and ninety eight (298) registered year four (400) and year three (300) students in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Faculty of Education in 2011/2012 academic session. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 50 students each of the strata (400 and 300 level students) making a sample size of 100 students. Four research questions and four hypotheses were posited for the study. Questionnaire was the main data collection instrument and had a reliability coefficient of 0.76 using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Data gathered from the study was analyzed descriptively using percentages, while Chi Square was used to test the hypotheses. The results from the study revealed that there is a significance influence of students’ involvement in extra-curricular activities on their academic performance, the study also revealed that attitude of students towards extra-curricular activities influence their academic performance, while students’ value of extra-curricular activities have no influence on their academic performance, and lastly the study also found out that choice of extra-curricular activities in school influence students’ academic performance. Based on the findings therefore, it was concluded that extra-curricular activities in Niger Delta University have a detrimental influence on the academic performance of students. It was then recommended that students should take their studies seriously and not to get involved in too many extra-curricular activities as this have an adverse effect on their academic performance, school 73 administrators also should regulate the kind of extra-curricular activities that takes place on campus.