Educators from Africa, including elementary school teachers, began on January 14 a course in elementary mathematics and science education taught by instructors from Okayama University. The course will last for two months, until March 7.

Although the school attendance rate has improved in Africa, issues remain with raising the quality of education, hence this course is one part of the Region-Focused Training Program of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Those attending the course will revise lesson plans they made prior to coming to Japan through classes in this university, and will at the end of the course teach a class to pupils of Okayama Municipal Ishima Elementary School.

Attending the opening ceremony held at the Faculty of Education Hall were Dr. Masaru Araki, Director of the International Center, Dr. Masaru Kaga, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, Takeo Ishikawa, Head of the Chugoku JICA Training Program Section, and the course participants. Dr. Araki stated that “elementary school education plays an extremely vital role as the foundation of all subsequent education, and we hope that the course will be of use to the future of the children and nations of Africa.”