Angel Doris
PARIS – Jonathan Klein, a member of the citizens' convention focused on child protection and school time, emphasized the crucial need for transforming extracurricular services in 2026. He advocates that these activities outside regular class hours be treated as essential complementary educational time, ensuring optimal safety and well-being for every child. This perspective was shared through an opinion piece published in the prominent media outlet Le Monde.
Klein highlighted that public services must adopt a more proactive role in managing out-of-school hours. According to him, the current approach does not fully capitalize on the educational potential within extracurricular activities, despite their critical importance for children's holistic development.
This statement emerges amid a global debate concerning the quality and accessibility of education. Many observers believe that formal education systems alone are insufficient to equip the younger generation with 21st-century skills. Therefore, time spent outside the classroom should be strategically designed.
Periscolaire must truly become a complementary educational time, conceived in continuity with the student's learning day, Klein stated, underscoring the urgency of this paradigm shift. He stressed the necessity of seamless integration between formal curriculum and informal activities.
The citizens' convention, represented by Klein, is mandated to provide policy recommendations aimed at improving children's quality of life at school, including aspects of their safety and personal development. Their primary focus is how the state can ensure a safe and productive environment for children throughout their day.
A key challenge lies in standardizing the quality and availability of extracurricular services across different regions. Numerous areas still face resource limitations, both in terms of facilities and trained educators, which impede the implementation of comprehensive programs.
This issue aligns with broader calls for public service reforms, as alluded to in the article Private Model Chokes Public Services: Sociologists Call for Urgent Reform. Strong government involvement is fundamental to addressing these disparities.
The Indonesian government, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, also demonstrates a commitment to enhancing education quality. Programs focusing on character development and non-academic skills are increasingly becoming national priorities.
Several innovative initiatives have been attempted in various countries, involving partnerships among schools, local governments, and civil society organizations. These models aim to create rich learning ecosystems where children can explore their interests and talents beyond classroom boundaries.
However, Jonathan Klein cautioned that merely providing facilities is not enough. Programs must be designed with clear pedagogical objectives, ensuring every activity adds educational value, rather than serving solely as childcare. This requires specialized training for facilitators.
Effective implementation demands multi-sectoral collaboration and adequate budgetary allocation. Without strong financial support and robust policies, the vision of integrated extracurricular services will be challenging to realize equitably.
This discussion is also relevant to efforts aimed at tackling the student dropout crisis, as explored in Futuri: Breakthrough Student Orientation for Junior High School Faces Dropout Crisis 2026, as engaging and supportive learning environments outside formal hours can significantly boost student involvement.
Editorial Insight: Jonathan Klein's perspective highlights the urgent need to re-conceptualize the role of out-of-class time within the education system. It is not merely a leisure activity but a strategic investment in shaping the character and competencies of future generations. Governments worldwide, including Indonesia, must make this a priority agenda to prevent widening disparities in human resource development. This is not solely about education but also the foundational fabric of future society.
