Extracurricular Educational Activities and Their Role in Developing Students’ Life Skills: Perspectives of Educational Activity Specialists in the Directorates of Education in Al-Diwaniyah

Abstract

research aims to explore extracurricular activities and their role in enhancing students' life skills from the perspective of educational activity specialists in the Diwaniya Education Directorates, as these activities play a vital role in developing students' skills and refining their personalities to become more cooperative and positive. It also provides the opportunity to discover and develop students' talents, abilities, and inclinations, enabling them to acquire the necessary experiences to face the challenges of practical life. Among the essential personal skills that extracurricular activities enhance, communication skills stand out due to their social importance. After reviewing previous studies, the current research addressed the impact of extracurricular activities from the perspective of specialists in educational activities in the Diwaniyah Education Directorates, thru the programs they offer to develop students' life skills during the academic year 2025/2024.  The research relied on the descriptive method, using the questionnaire and personal interview as tools for data collection. One of the most prominent findings of the study was the low participation of students in extracurricular activities, and the lack of significant differences in general between participating and non-participating students regarding communication skills. Recommendations were provided based on the study's results.