Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif visited the Egyptian-Japanese School in Obour City this week to oversee the rollout of Japanese language instruction. The curriculum is now being offered to first preparatory, or seventh-grade, students across 10 schools nationwide.
The program currently serves approximately 400 students. During the visit, officials observed classes that utilize interactive methods, including songs and visual aids, to teach the language. The initiative also focuses on developing leadership and dialogue skills through collaborative activities.
A strategic partnership
The introduction of the language program is part of an ongoing educational cooperation between Egypt and Japan that began in 2016. Minister Abdel Latif noted that the partnership aims to move beyond traditional knowledge acquisition to focus on character development, discipline, and community service.
The Japan Foundation has supported the rollout by providing the official textbook, titled TANOSHI NI HONGO, and facilitating teacher training programs. Shinya Kurosawa, President of the Japan Foundation, described the initiative as the largest implementation of Japanese language education at this academic level within the Middle East and North Africa region.
Future prospects
Officials believe that learning Japanese will provide students with future opportunities in fields such as science, technology, and international business. Beyond language acquisition, the program is intended to foster cultural exchange and deepen students' understanding of Japanese values.
In addition to the new language classes, the school visit highlighted other educational activities, including group work comparing ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs with Japanese Kanji symbols and student-led leadership sessions.
