After-School Activities and Academic Performance: Exploring Alternative Approach to Educational Development in Nigeria

Abstract

A reverse of side-effects of certain after-school activities on students could serve as an alternative means of educational development. Through a multistage procedure involving stratified and systematic techniques, data was collected from 196 secondary students. Weighted third terminal scores for 2015/2016 session and first terminal scores of 20016/2017academic year (making a total of four terms), were analyzed along with student-participants' responses using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicate that as a side effect, street-hawking had a significant negative relationship on participants' academic performance [r(184)= -0.223, p < .01]; that students who measure high on mobile or internet usage significantly performed less (Mean=580.43) academically among others. It is submitted that as students' academic performance decreases due to multiple activities and high interaction with internet, dismal academic performance could be reversed for improved educational development through committed monitoring of parents.