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Ghanaian Education Officials Begin Training at Okayama University

July 18, 2012

A group of twelve people from Ghana, including elementary school teachers and education ministry officials, began training in mathematics and science education under the tutelage of Okayama University faculty on July 9. This is the third such group the university has hosted since 2010 under a Country Focused Training Program operated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The two-month program will conclude on September 6.
While school attendance rates continue to rise in Ghana, education in that country needs to be improved. This program focuses on the supervising teachers and teacher trainers who play a central role in schools, and seeks to strengthen their ability to provide high-quality science and mathematics education and conduct in-school training for teachers. Trainees compile teaching plans before coming to Japan, and then go about improving them based on what they learn from their lectures here. Finally, they put theory into practice by conducting classes with students of an elementary school affiliated with the Okayama University Faculty of Education.
An opening ceremony was held on July 9 and joining the trainees were: Masaru Araki, vice president of Okayama University; Masaru Kaga, Dean of the Graduate School of Education; Shigenobu Takatsuka, Vice-Dean of the Graduate School of Education; and Takeo Ishikawa, head of the JICA Chugoku International Center Training Section. VP Araki said he hoped that the trainees would apply the benefits of the insights gained in Japan not just for their own schools but for all the children of Ghana. The following day, the trainees paid their respects to Pres. Kiyoshi Morita, who also gave the visitors a rousing speech.

< Photo > VP Masaru Araki (front row, third from left) and the Ghanaian trainees at the opening ceremony

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