Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The city government of Surakarta has launched a unique extracurricular program for middle school students using the popular online game Roblox. Called Edublox, the initiative was officially launched by Mayor Respati Ardi at Solo Technopark.
Designed as an early introduction to the digital world, the pilot program initially enrolled 20 students, with its first session held on Sept. 10. The launch sparked immediate public attention, drawing both enthusiasm and criticism amid concerns about negative content sometimes associated with Roblox.
Mayor Respati defended that the program was carried out within the safety framework, stressing it will be conducted under strict supervision.
“The activities are guided by teachers and overseen by parents. With proper training and monitoring, Roblox can encourage children to be creative and socialize with their peers in the online world,” he told reporters, Friday (September 12).
He noted that the initiative did not apply for all students, emphasized that participation is limited to middle school students.
Mayor Respati remains optimistic even though the initiative has faced resistance from some education officials, including the national Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“Debate is normal, but we are committed to exploring children’s interests through games and creativity. Learning should come from things they enjoy. This generation is no longer Gen Z, it’s Gen Alpha,” he said.
Read Also:
Roblox Pledge Stricter Verification Age After Child Safety Lawsuit
Despite the pilot’s limited quota, interest has surged. Surakarta’s Education Department reported that around 500 students have already registered, far exceeding the target of 100.
For the extracurricular program, the participants will be designated into groups. Each group will consist of 20 students. They will meet on the platform once a week for three weeks, with sessions lasting up from 60 to 90 minutes.
The government stated that computers will be provided at Solo Technopark, so student didn’t have to bring any devices.
“If enthusiasm remains high, the program could be adopted as an official extracurricular activity in schools,” said Dwi Ariyanto, head of the city’s education office Dwi Ariyanto, noting that the program was currently still in a trial phase.
(Raidi/Agung)
