Kobe middle schools begin abolishing extracurricular activities, shift to community programs

Beginning on September 1, many middle schools in Kobe have discontinued their extracurricular activities and have shifted to community programs. The Kobekatsu program, endorsed by the Kobe Board of Education, aims to provide students with better opportunities than their previous options. This program, which combines "katsu" (a shortened form of "bu-katsu" meaning extracurricular activities), partners with 1,051 local community sports teams, clubs, workshops, and universities offering programs in athletics, arts, and technology.

Students can join these Kobekatsu partners and receive a stipend of between 1,500 and 3,000 yen (US$9.50-US$19) per month to cover participation costs. Additionally, a fund is being established to assist with the expenses of necessary equipment, such as sports supplies and musical instruments. The shift to community-run programs may potentially diminish students' sense of school pride, as clubs no longer represent their school.

However, there are several benefits to this change, with increased choice being the most significant.

With over 1,000 partner organizations, students can now access activities beyond what their school could offer alone. While some overlap may exist among the available activities, this could be advantageous, as it allows kids to find programs that nurture their interests and talents. Unlike school-run clubs, Kobekatsu offers more options, as it isn't restricted by the students' address.

This new program also provides an opportunity for students to interact with peers from other schools, potentially fostering more open-mindedness and well-roundedness. While the closure of schools' clubs may be sad, this could be the beginning of something very good for the affected students.