Fahad Rahaman Azhor :
A few days ago, I along with Rakibul Alam Rabby went to Japan for a 15-day visit to represent Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in International Youth Exchange Programme organized by the Japanese Red Cross Society. In Hokkaido, we went to some elementary schools to learn about the Japanese primary education system. We visited Hakurio, Shirayuri and Tanikawa Elementary School. When entering in a school compound, we saw that there is a huge vault placed right to outside of the entrance. We were informed that no one goes in the school wearing a shoe usually used outside the school. They think to wear it in school is a bad thing. That’s why they put their shoes into the vault and wear a different pair of shoe in the school compound.
We saw clean and shiny corridor and the classes situated in a particular order. During Hokkaido tour, we accompanied with a Japanese Social-worker named Fumiki Moritake who is a primary school teacher of Tanikawa Elementary School. He is assigned for taking care of the handicapped students of the school. We learned that almost in every school in Japan, there is an opportunity for the handicapped student to study with the regular ones.
In an exchange program, the school authorities took some special arrangements for us. We had a little conversation with the Principle of the school about many issues regarding Bangladesh and Japan. He gave us an opportunity to visit the school. We visited the classrooms, music room, computer lab, cafeteria, a big indoor basketball field. There are almost everything for children to enjoy schools in Japan. Japanese much friendly, they received us with hearts and we were delighted with their sweet innocent smile as well. In a short time we felt like we knew each other for a long time. Sitting in the benches with them, we enjoyes some classes like calligraphy (Japanese letter art). We had a lot of fun during Origami class. As Origami is included in their Educational curriculum, Japanese children are very expert in making handicrafts from an early age. There was also a class called “Math games”. We learned Japanese number orders and we also taught them those number orders into Bengali. They were amused to hear Bengali from us.
We played some traditional Japanese games with them. We also played with the handmade toys made by the students of the school. We noticed that the Japanese Primary education system is totally different from Bangladesh. There is no pressure of study in Japan schools. The whole primary education system is established for forming values and creativity of the students. There seemed an apathy of learning English in Japan. When we left a school students bade us good-bye. We saw some students crying. Just a few hours ago we met for the first time and now we had to leave them forever. We were so sad also. But we had to move on; we promised them to meet again. Life goes on and things will be forgotten. But I will remember those Himaka, Hikari, Fuji, Ryo of Japan for the rest of my life.
A few days ago, I along with Rakibul Alam Rabby went to Japan for a 15-day visit to represent Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in International Youth Exchange Programme organized by the Japanese Red Cross Society. In Hokkaido, we went to some elementary schools to learn about the Japanese primary education system. We visited Hakurio, Shirayuri and Tanikawa Elementary School. When entering in a school compound, we saw that there is a huge vault placed right to outside of the entrance. We were informed that no one goes in the school wearing a shoe usually used outside the school. They think to wear it in school is a bad thing. That’s why they put their shoes into the vault and wear a different pair of shoe in the school compound.
We saw clean and shiny corridor and the classes situated in a particular order. During Hokkaido tour, we accompanied with a Japanese Social-worker named Fumiki Moritake who is a primary school teacher of Tanikawa Elementary School. He is assigned for taking care of the handicapped students of the school. We learned that almost in every school in Japan, there is an opportunity for the handicapped student to study with the regular ones.
In an exchange program, the school authorities took some special arrangements for us. We had a little conversation with the Principle of the school about many issues regarding Bangladesh and Japan. He gave us an opportunity to visit the school. We visited the classrooms, music room, computer lab, cafeteria, a big indoor basketball field. There are almost everything for children to enjoy schools in Japan. Japanese much friendly, they received us with hearts and we were delighted with their sweet innocent smile as well. In a short time we felt like we knew each other for a long time. Sitting in the benches with them, we enjoyes some classes like calligraphy (Japanese letter art). We had a lot of fun during Origami class. As Origami is included in their Educational curriculum, Japanese children are very expert in making handicrafts from an early age. There was also a class called “Math games”. We learned Japanese number orders and we also taught them those number orders into Bengali. They were amused to hear Bengali from us.
We played some traditional Japanese games with them. We also played with the handmade toys made by the students of the school. We noticed that the Japanese Primary education system is totally different from Bangladesh. There is no pressure of study in Japan schools. The whole primary education system is established for forming values and creativity of the students. There seemed an apathy of learning English in Japan. When we left a school students bade us good-bye. We saw some students crying. Just a few hours ago we met for the first time and now we had to leave them forever. We were so sad also. But we had to move on; we promised them to meet again. Life goes on and things will be forgotten. But I will remember those Himaka, Hikari, Fuji, Ryo of Japan for the rest of my life.
