From November 1st to 8th, 2024, 12 teachers from School No. 53 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia visited Japan to observe initiatives at Japanese elementary, junior high and senior high schools. School No. 53 was one of the target schools of the Project for Strengthening Teachers’ Ability and Reasonable Treatments for Children with Disabilities (START) in Mongolia (2015-2024), a technical cooperation project implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This school visit focused particularly on observing practices related to inclusive education.
On November 2nd, the group attended an optimal individual learning workshop held at Koganei Elementary School attached to Tokyo Gakugei University, where they observed a Japanese language study lesson entitled Expanding Associations from Words taught by Mr. Hideki Suzuki.
On November 6th, the group visited St. Stephen’s Elementary and Junior High School in Kanagawa Prefecture. The school was founded after World War II as part of the Elizabeth Saunders Home, which was established to care for, raise and support the independence of orphans. Today, the school continues to embrace the diverse individuality of children and fosters adaptability through inclusive education. During the visit, the participants received an overview of daily life at the school and teaching methods from the principal, Noriaki Sato. They also toured the campus, observed club activities and enjoyed a performance by the handbell club.
On the next day, the group visited Setagaya Izumi High School in Tokyo, a “challenge school” established to accommodate students who were previously school non-attendees to continue their education. The school offers a flexible learning system tailored to diverse learning needs, allowing students to choose morning, afternoon or evening classes and to select subjects based on their interests within a comprehensive curriculum. Teachers, school counselors and social workers work as a team to provide student support. During the visit, the participants exchanged opinions with the principal, Eiichi Okiyama, and self-reliance support teacher on differences and common challenges of education in Japan and Mongolia.
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- A Visit to St. Stephen’s School (November 6th, 2024)
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- A Visit to Setagaya Izumi High School (November 7th, 2024)
The following is some of the feedback we received from the participants.
- In the schools we visited, education was conducted with respect for the children, allowing them to build their own knowledge. Being able to freely explore and consider ideas enabled them to develop their thinking skills.
- I gained an understanding of how Japanese education fundamentally deals with practical, real-life content, preparing the children for life as members of society.
- Teachers, counselors and social workers worked as a team, providing support for the children across the entire school.
After returning to Mongolia, on November 11th, the group promptly reported to the Education Department of Bayanzurkh District in Ulaanbaatar, where School No. 53 is located, about their school visits in Japan.
