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Abstract

This paper seeks to explore stakeholders’ views on the effects of students’ participation in co-curricular activities in secondary schools. It explores the perceptions held by heads of schools, teachers, students, chairpersons of school boards, school inspectors and parents towards academic, physical and social development of students as a result of engaging in co-curricular activities. Stakeholders’ views helped to determine the value attached to the activities in comparison to the contribution the activities have in students’ total development. A total of 218 respondents participated in the study on which this paper is based. Basically, qualitative research data collection methodology was used to capture views of stakeholders from eight public and private schools in Dodoma municipality in Tanzania. The methodology was complemented by some elements of quantitative approach. Stakeholders were of the view that positive effects of students’ participation in co-curricular activities outweighed the negative effects. Generally, it was revealed that co-curricular activities were effective in supporting students’ development in different dimensions, and most of the negative effects were attributed to school managerial weaknesses. Finally, the study recommends on the best practices for promoting students’ engagement in co-curricular activities to help students benefit from the activities.

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