A total of ten educators from Sub-Saharan African countries, including Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, visited Okayama University from June 5 to begin a training program on the improvement of primary science and mathematics education under the guidance of Okayama University teaching staff. The program is being carried out as a part of *JICA’s Training and Dialogue Programs.

In the African region, while school enrollment rate is rising, improvements in the quality of education are becoming an important issue. In the program, with the aim of improving teachers’ skills, the preparation of effective teaching plans and methods of academic assessment were acquired using teaching plans that the participants prepared before coming to Japan.

The opening ceremony in Okayama University’s Faculty of Education building was attended by 17 persons, including Kazuo Anazawa, Vice-Executive Director for International Affairs; Shigenobu Takatsuka, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, and Kimio Fukazawa, Training Program Division Advisor of the JICA Chugoku International Center. Giving the welcome greeting, Vice-Director Anazawa said, “Success or failure of educational activities in schools greatly depends on the quality and ability of teachers, who directly interact with children in the classrooms. I earnestly desire that you will act as a bridge between your respective home countries and Japan.”

In addition, the program participants paid a courtesy visit to President Kiyoshi Morita on June 8. The trainee’s representative Ms. Zillah Agmorkuor Nyakor from Ghana expressed the enthusiasm of the participants to acquire the skills and knowledge provided by the program and received encouragement from President Morita to take full advantage of the training at Okayama University.

* Japan International Cooperation Agency

Contact information
International Affairs Division, Center for Global Partnerships and Education
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