Exploration of dilemmas and paths in primary school after-school services from the ecosystem perspective

After-school services play a crucial role in implementing the "Double Reduction" policy, but practical implementation faces issues such as inadequate content, low participation, and incomplete systems. Addressing these dilemmas has become a key focus in education. This study aims to explore factors influencing the quality of primary school after-school services and propose feasible policy recommendations. Guided by ecosystem theory, the research involves observations of three after-school service scenarios and semi-structured interviews with teachers, parents, and students. It identifies problems including unbalanced program design, poor content quality, uneven effectiveness, insufficient resource collaboration, and weak supervision. Corresponding countermeasures are proposed from micro, meso, and macro levels based on the ecosystem perspective. The systematic analysis of after-school services enriches research perspectives in this field, and the recommendations provide valuable insights for promoting multi-stakeholder cooperation among schools, communities, and policymakers.