IMPORTANCE OF CO-CURRICULUM IN

EDUCATION
Introduction
The education system implemented in a country
is a vehicle to educate children to become
successful people and to know the culture and
the surrounding environment as well as to
convey the national ideology to the community
through the application of understanding and
positive values for racial unity among the next
generation of young people. . In order to produce
a balanced and perfect education system,
emphasis should be placed on both aspects, i.e.
curriculum and co-curriculum. Co-curriculum is
important to realize the concept of knowledge,
experience and skills across the curriculum
where it includes physical education activities,
arts and recreation, science and technology
activities as well as group and social activities. In
line with the National Education Philosophy, this
field is able to give students the opportunity to
build physical strength, strengthen mental ability,
help in emotional stability and then to spiritual

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stability in applying noble values based on
adherence to the religion they adhere to. This
individual building process needs to be
continuous and comprehensive without any
separation between curriculum and co-curriculum
(Ab.Alim, 2004; Tam Yeow Kwai, 2010).
The importance of co-curriculum in education
has been emphasized since time immemorial by
scholars. During the Renaissance, Vittoria da
Feltre (1378-1446), a great teacher and famous
humanist from Italy, voiced that education would
not be complete if practical activities such as
sports and games were not included in the
school curriculum. That view is agreed and
applied in education year after year, the only
difference is the extent to which it is implemented
seriously in schools. In the region, the first school
scout team was established in Singapore in
1909. At that time extracurricular activities were
considered extracurricular. Through the
instruction letter School Course of Studies 1956
which was amended in the Education Act 1961,
the Ministry of Education outlined the
implementation of co-curriculum in schools
where these activities were named as group

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activities (Ab.Alim, 2004).Now, co-curriculum has
become a priority in education.

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Implementation of co-curriculum in secondary
schools
At the beginning of the implementation of co-
curriculum in education in Malaysia, it was known
as
"extra curriculum" or "extracurricular activities",
as evident in the Regulation of School Study
Courses, Education Act 1956 where co-
curriculum is considered a program that is
outside of the actual education curriculum. In the
1960s, co-curricular activities were considered as
something separate, additional activities and not
very important in the development and process
of teaching and learning of students at school
(Ab.Alim, 2004). However, the awareness of the
importance of co-curricular has gradually
changed according to the current development of
education and started to be given priority in every
educational planning.
Konsep pelaksanaan kokurikulum di peringkat
persekolahan masa kini adalah berdasarkan
saranan Laporan Kabinet 1979, Falsafah
Pendidikan Kebangsaan 1988 dan Peraturan-
Peraturan Pendidikan (Persatuan Sekolah) 1998.

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Mengikut Laporan Kabinet 1979, aktiviti
kokurikulum adalah penting untuk semua murid
di setiap peringkat persekolahan. Maka semua
murid diwajibkan menyertai kokurikulum kerana
aktivitinya berupaya menyemai, memupuk dan
menanamkan perasaan kekitaan dalam
masyarakat berbilang kaum selain berupaya
menerapkan nilai-nilai murni. Kokurikulum juga
ditekankan dalam Falsafah Pendidikan
Kebangsaan 1988, yang dulunya dikenali
sebagai Falsafah Pendidikan Negara.
Matlamat Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan
ialah untuk memperkembangkan potensi individu
secara menyeluruh dan bersepadu untuk
melahirkan insan yang seimbang, harmonis,
bertanggungjawab, berketerampilan dan serba
bole The concept of co-curricular implementation
at the current school level is based on the
recommendations of the 1979 Cabinet Report,
the 1988 National Philosophy of Education and
the 1998 Education (School Association)
Regulations. According to the 1979 Cabinet
Report, co-curricular activities are important for
all students at every school level. So all students
are required to participate in co-curricular

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activities because their activities try to sow,
nurture and instill a sense of belonging in a multi-
racial society in addition to trying to apply good
values. Co-curriculum is also emphasized in the
1988 National Education Philosophy, formerly
known as the National Education Philosophy.
The goal of the National Education Philosophy is
to develop the potential of individuals
comprehensively and integrated to produce
balanced, harmonious, responsible, skilled and
versatile people based on faith and obedience to
God. Therefore, in order to create an integrated
education, the co-curriculum needs to be
emphasized as a channel to achieve the
educational goals. In order to ensure that the
implementation of co-curriculum in schools is
structured and uniform, various rules and
guidelines are outlined in the Education (School
Association) Regulations 1998. The
implementation of co-curriculum in schools must
be based on enforced acts and regulations as
well as specialized circular letters distributed
from time to time.
h based on faith and obedience to God.
Therefore, in order to create an integrated

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education, the co-curriculum needs to be
emphasized as a channel to achieve the
educational goals. In order to ensure that the
implementation of co-curriculum in schools is
structured and uniform, various rules and
guidelines are outlined in the Education (School
Association) Regulations 1998. The
implementation of co-curriculum in schools must
be based on enforced acts and regulations as
well as specialized circular letters distributed
from time to time.
Now, the co-curriculum is part of the national
curriculum. The National Curriculum is defined as
an educational program consisting of curriculum
and co-curriculum that includes all knowledge,
skills, norms, values, cultural elements and
beliefs to help the development of a student fully
in terms of physical, spiritual, mental and
emotional as well as inculcate and enhance
moral values desired as well as to convey
knowledge (BSSK, 2009). Therefore, the
implementation and participation of students in
the extracurricular at school is mandatory either
for the school

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