EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND EXTENDED SCHOOL DAY POLICIES: COMPARISON BETWEEN BRAZIL AND SPAIN

Abstract

This article aims to compare the offer of extracurricular activities in Brazil and Spain, in the context of formulating and implementing of extended school day policies. The analysis has focused on extracurricular activities that make up the full-time education policies (Brazil) and extracurricular activities after school hours (Spain). The comparison between the two countries was based on national legislation and an analysis model containing 12 aspects of policy formulation and implementation. National regulations indicate that extracurricular activities contribute to integral formation and establish high autonomy for federative units (Brazil) and schools (Spain). In the Brazilian case, extracurricular activities within the scope of full-time education are free, are under the responsibility of education professionals and are integrated with the compulsory school curriculum. In the Spanish case, extracurricular activities are paid by families, are under the responsibility of different professionals and occur after the compulsory school day. The comparison between Brazil and Spain shows that the strategies that make up the extended school day policies are directly associated with the social function of the school in each country and with the way in which they relation to some elements, among which: formal and non-formal education, school and non-school space, curricular and extracurricular, compulsory and optional.