Extracurricular services are regarded as essential services in school system. Studies suggest that access to the services lead to students' academic success. Literature shows that the use of qualitative approach to investigate extracurricular services is limited. In view of the foregoing, this study examined the perceived influence of extracurricular services on students' academic achievement in secondary schools. Twenty (20) principals were selected from the three senatorial districts of Kwara State using stratified, purposive and convenience sampling techniques. Instruments used include interview and observation methods to collect relevant data from the participants. Specifically, observation method was used to complement findings from interview. Our findings reveal that extracurricular services influenced students' academic achievement. Our findings revealed also that inadequate availability of extracurricular facilities and personnel are the factors militating against effective provision of extracurricular services. This study recommends that adequate extracurricular facilities (football pitch, volleyball court, hall for social activities, etc.) should be available in schools. Lastly, adequate extracurricular services personnel should be deployed to schools to ensure active participation of students in various activities.

<p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;">The common problems of learners that contribute to absenteeism in school include malaria,<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> cough/catarrh, typhoid, headache and stomach ache. This led to the formulation of national<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> school health policy in Nigeria to promote health services in schools. In view of the foregoing,<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> this study assesses principals’ perception of health services in secondary schools. The study<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> population consists of 551 principals of secondary schools (public and private) in Kwara State,<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Nigeria. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed to select 20 principals.<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Instrument tagged “Interview Protocol on Health Services (IPHS)” was used to elicit data from<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> the participants. Data collected was transcribed and analysed via thematic approach. Findings<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> revealed that majority of the schools does not have school clinic to dispense health services to<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> learners. Our fidings also show that most of the schools lack health personnel and equipment.<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> This study concludes that comprehensive health services were not provided for learners. The study<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> recommends that the government should come up with policy statement on school health services<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> that will help to provide quality health services to the learners. Adequate budget should be made<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> by the government for the implementation of the policy. Lastly, the study provides practical and<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> methodological contributions to the body of knowledge in the fild of education.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" /></span></p>