LAKKI MARWAT: Speakers during an online dialogue on Wednesday underlined the need to promote co-curricular activities in schools and colleges for the students’ personality development and character building.

The Guddikhel Youth Forum, a youth organisation of Karak district, virtually hosted the event.

Dr Qudratullah Khattak, Dr Qaisar Mehmood, Prof Mufti Abdul Jalil, Prof Abdul Salam, Ghulam Sardar, Noor Badshah, Engineer Abdul Rashid, Abdul Rasheed Khattak, Mufti Javed Ghani, Prof Akhtar Nawaz, Khursheed Khattak and other experts spoke on the occasion.

They said holding curricular activities in educational institutions was inevitable but their managements should develop an annual calendar of extra-curricular activities.

The speakers said students didn’t feel uncomfortable and suffocated when such healthy activities were held on campuses regularly.

They said the educational institutions should hold declamation, calligraphy, painting and essay writing competitions for students.

“Dialogues, debates, group discussions, seminars, recreational trips, study tours, and scouting and sports activities are also helpful to promote creativity skills among students and keep them physically and mentally fit,” a speaker said.

The speakers urged authorities to devise a comprehensive strategy to bring co-curriculum activities in line with modern needs, formulate an annual calendar and ensure its implementation by all educational institutions in letter and spirit.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2025