EDUCATION
THINKING AHEAD International schools in Japan and how they prepare students for the future BY MEGAN CASSON
Aoba-Japan International School students celebrate on graduation day.
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child’s education is considered one of the most important decisions a parent can make. Parents want to be able to ensure that their child is well taught and fully qualified to take on their further education and, eventually, their careers. The style of education, curriculum and extracurricular activities are all important aspects of the learning experience, and multiple international schools throughout Japan acknowledge how important it is to prepare children for the future. BCCJ ACUMEN spoke with Dr Ken Sell, head of school at Aoba-Japan International School; Yoshino Plaza, director of Summerhill International School; and Dr Robin Lister, the regional executive advisor of Malvern College International (Asia-Pacific) about curriculums, and the importance of independent learning and entrepreneurship.
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From the start While the qualifications and advanced study at senior schools are of importance, a child’s learning journey starts at primary school. Summerhill became an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) school in 2018. The school offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum for the K3 class (age 3–4), all the way through to K5 (age 5–6). K1 (age 1–2) and K2 (age 2–3) classes reference the PYP framework and use the Early Years Foundation Stage to assess the learning develop ment of students. “We believe that we are instilling the necessary skills, concepts and knowledge required for students to strive beyond school life, which are all reflected in the standards and practices of the IB curriculum”, said Plaza. Certain subjects, such as science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) hold
Certain subjects, such as science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) hold value in the modern world. value in the modern world. Jobs within these fields are secure and the amount of opportunity is continually growing. It is important for children to have access to detailed learning in these subjects from a young age, providing them with a solid basis for their further education. At Summerhill, STEAM is integrated into the lessons. Plaza explained how the school recognises the changes occurring as we merge into a digital world. “It is important for teachers and students to gain the necessary knowledge, skills and concepts to enforce positive learning in the digital age. For example, in the K5 classroom,
