Thirteen people involved in education from Africa, including elementary school teachers, began on January 9 a course in elementary mathematics and science education taught by instructors from Okayama University. The course will last for two months, until March 1.

The school attendance rate has improved in Africa, but there are issues with raising the quality of education. This is the second time this course has been conducted and the 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 at this in this university, and will at the end of the course teach a class to pupils of Okayama Municipal Ishima Elementary School.

The opening ceremony held on the 11th was attended by Dr. Aiji Otsuka, director of the International Center, Dr. Masaru Kaga, dean of the Graduate School of Education, Shigenobu Takatsuka (M.A.), vice-dean of the same school, and Noriaki Nishimiya, director general of the Chugoku International Center of the JICA. Dr. Otsuka's message stated that elementary school education was vital for the future of a country, and that he hoped those attending the course would make use what they learned in the course widely throughout Africa. The course members paid an honorary visit on President Morita on the 15th. Following encouraging words from the president, Ms. Florence Yabhom Fofana, an elementary school teacher from Sierra Leone, acted as the representative of the course members to give a statement of their determination.