A growing demand
In recent years, there are more and more people and organizations that value education outside of school and that claim the right for children, adolescents and young people to access leisure activities, especially in the afternoons and at summer This demand arises from the awareness that education is not limited to the classroom, but can be enriched and complemented by other spaces and educational experiences.
Afternoon educational spaces
Afternoon educational spaces, popularly known as extracurricular activities, are an increasingly present option in different town halls. These spaces offer a wide variety of topics and bring artistic and technological activities closer to an audience that might not normally have access to these educational opportunities. This allows children and young people to expand their horizons and encourage their integral development.
Impulse of the administrations
Several councils, such as Barcelona City Council and Martorell City Council, have launched programs to guarantee access to extracurricular activities. These programs include measures to ensure thematic diversity and economic accessibility to these activities. In addition, scholarship campaigns and other aid have been established to facilitate the participation of families with fewer financial resources.
The importance of quality
Despite the increase in the offer of extracurricular activities, it is essential to guarantee the quality of these educational proposals. This implies taking into account several aspects, such as the training of the staff in charge of dynamizing the activities, the link with the learning that takes place at school, the connection with the community and the inclusion of children with special educational needs. It is important that these educational spaces do not become mere nurseries, but that they offer enriching and meaningful experiences for children and young people.
Take care of working conditions
To guarantee the quality of extracurricular activities, it is essential to take care of the working conditions of the staff who teach them. It is necessary to recognize the appropriate job categories and ensure fair remuneration for the hours of preparation, assessment and meetings. In addition, it is necessary to establish processes of registration and linkage with families that are inclusive and that take into account their opinions and needs. This task can be carried out by professionals specialized in the coordination of educational activities, who are present both in the educational centers and in the territory.
A look into the future
In order to achieve quality education outside school, prior planning and coordination work with territorial agents is necessary. This involves establishing contracts with an appropriate duration to implement extracurricular activities programs and carrying out a subsequent evaluation to improve them for the future. Financial and professional resources must be provided to these programs so that they can have a positive impact on the development of children and young people and on their learning opportunities.
conclusion
Education outside school is an increasingly present reality in our society. It is important that administrations, organizations and families work together to ensure access to quality educational activities for children, adolescents and young people. This involves taking care of the working conditions of the staff, establishing inclusive processes and coordinating with territorial agents. Only in this way can we realize the right to education in leisure time and offer enriching learning opportunities for everyone.
