Strategies of Managing Co-Curricular Activities in Secondary Schools in Gulu City.

Abstract

The study was on determining the strategies of managing co-curricular activities in secondary schools in Gulu City. The objective was to determine the strategies of managing co-curricular activities (CCAs) in secondary schools in Gulu City. Benchmarking, awarding scholarships, training and coaching, financing of CCAs, sponsorships to excelling students, assigning patrons and matrons with roles to manage clubs and societies, and role modelling denote strategies of managing co-curricular activities. Correlation design was employed; data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observation surveys from 218 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data on strategies of managing CCAs in secondary schools, and Bivariate Regression was used to generalise. The findings were presented in the form of tables and narratives from the interview. The findings revealed that the preferred strategies of managing CCAs by the different secondary schools in Gulu City were: assigning patrons and matrons, certificates, training and coaching, and scholarship, ranked accordingly. The findings revealed that though independent variables such as scholarship, sponsorship, benchmarking, financing, and assigning of matrons and patrons have positive outcomes, strategies such as role modelling and mentorship approach are demotivating if not employed with more care. It was found that strategies such as training and coaching, and the award of certificates of good performance, significantly improved students’ achievement. The study recommended that the government should prioritise funding for co-curricular activities from the grassroots to the national level, focusing on talent identification and development. City leaders should lobby development partners and the central government for adequate funding