On November 13, President Hirofumi Makino was visited by 13 education officials from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru.

They visited Japan to participate in the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s Knowledge Co-Creation Program on Improvement of Quality of Mathematics Education in Secondary Education at Okayama University for about three weeks from November 1. President Makino explained the University’s activities to achieve SDGs and added that this program can help achieve the Goal No.4, which focuses on ensuring quality education for all. He encouraged them by saying, “I hope you will use what you’ve learned from this course after you return to your home country.”

The net enrollment ratios in primary and secondary education in Latin America are relatively high compared to those in other regions. However, poor quality in education has been pointed out as a problem. This course, which was coordinated by Professor Hiroki Fujii of the Graduate School of Education, was designed to help participants learn how to improve their teaching skills and promote student-centered instruction by observing classes at Junior High School Attached to the School of Education at Okayama University and participating in mock classes given by trainers.