Development of Co-Curricular Activities to Sustain Local Identity through Sila Performing Arts in a Multicultural Context

Abstract

Preserving local cultural identity within a multicultural society is an important issue in educational management in the southern border provinces of Thailand, as social changes have reduced opportunities for youth to learn and inherit local cultural arts. This research aimed to: 1) develop co-curricular activities in Sila performing arts to preserve local identity within a multicultural context, 2) compare students’ learning achievement before and after participating in the activities, 3) assess students’ performance skills in Sila dance movements, and 4) investigate students’ satisfaction with the activities. The activities were designed using the concepts of experiential learning and multicultural education. The sample group consisted of 20 students from the Dance and Performing Arts Club at Ban Padang Community School during the first semester of the 2024 academic year. The research instruments included eight lesson plans, a knowledge test, a performance skill assessment form, and a satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and a t-test. The findings revealed that: 1) the developed co-curricular activities effectively promoted the preservation of local identity within a multicultural context; 2) students’ post-learning achievement scores were significantly higher than their pre-learning scores at the .05 level; 3) students demonstrated good performance skills in Sila dance movements, with a mean score of 17.60 out of 20; and 4) students’ overall satisfaction with the activities was at the highest level, with a mean score of 4.88. The findings suggest that co-curricular activities integrating local performing arts with experiential learning can effectively enhance students’ knowledge, skills, and awareness of local cultural identity.