School clubs could disappear

In an unprecedented move, the city of Kobe, Japan, has announced the complete elimination of extracurricular activities (clubs) in its public high schools. This change, which will begin to be implemented in the spring of 2024 and will be completed by August 2026, marks a radical shift in a country where school clubs are considered an essential part of students’ academic and personal development.

The importance of school clubs in Japan

In Japan, school clubs are not just spaces to play sports, explore artistic interests, or learn new skills. They are also considered fundamental tools for fostering values such as teamwork, discipline, and responsibility. In fact, in many Japanese schools, participation in a school club is mandatory, and those who do not join one are often labeled as part of the kitaku-bu (the “going home club”), a term that often carries a negative connotation.

This system has been depicted in numerous anime series, such as “K-On!”, which depicts the camaraderie in a light music club, or “Haikyuu!!,” which focuses on effort and self-improvement in a volleyball team. These stories have helped to globally popularize the idea of Japanese school clubs as a place where young people discover passions, form friendships and grow emotionally.

Why eliminate extracurricular activities?

The Kobe Board of Education has given two main reasons for this decision:

Low birth rates in Japan: The declining student population has made it difficult to maintain sports clubs and teams with sufficient numbers of participants, making the use of large facilities for small groups impractical.
Teachers' workload: In Japan, teachers already face extremely long working hours, and supervising extracurricular activities, including on weekends, exacerbates this situation. The elimination aims to alleviate this pressure and improve their quality of life.

To prevent students from being completely deprived of extracurricular options, Kobe will implement a system called Kobe Katsu, which will allow local sports and cultural organizations to use school facilities. Students will be able to join these outside programs, giving them greater flexibility to choose activities that suit their interests and needs.

Among the outstanding advantages of this model are:

Greater freedom of choice: Students will be able to opt for specialized programs or avoid hostile environments, such as abusive coaches, by switching organizations.
Reducing stigma: With more students leaving campuses after school, those who do not participate in organized activities may feel less socially isolated.

Kobe Board of Education Director Yasunori Fukamoto expressed optimism about this pioneering initiative: “ We hope that this will allow students, based on their individual circumstances, to make decisions about how to use their time .”

Despite the challenges, this shift could inspire other cities to reconsider their extracurricular activity models. While many look back with nostalgia at the end of a system that has been an integral part of Japanese education, others hope this new approach will allow for more personalized and sustainable development for students and teachers alike.

Source: Yahoo! News Japan