The new teaching guidance and the five-day-a-week system will be put into
practice in April 2002. The new Teaching Guidance will reduce the teaching
contents by approximately 30 percent and aim at thoroughly teaching the
basics and fundamentals. In the new system, the@need will be stressed
for encouraging children.who will take an active role in future society,
to learn and think by themselves, instead of being taught a voluminous
amount of knowledge. Furthermore,the importance of experimental learning
as well as problem solving will be stressed. In addition, the need for
education to prepare students for the international world will be met by
introduction of English conversation in General Education classes. In fact,
Meguro city will increase native English assistant teachers from two to
five at the elementary schools from April 2001, so as to provide the children
with environment where they can meet foreign teachers and be familiarized
with English.@![](173-1nakameguro.jpg)
In December last year, a presentation meeting of research and study concerning
General Education classes was held at the Nakameguro Elementary school
and many observed the open classes and attended discussion of research
and study. I for myself had the opportunity to observe a class called "Let's
Extend our Wings to the World," and watched the children learn dances
from foreign persons and do group learning with other foreign persons.
After the class, I learnt that the Meguro UNESCO Association introduced
these guest teachers and was impressed with the range and depth of the
Association's activities. I would like to take this opportunity to express
my gratitude to them .
@It is my sincere wish that the Meguro UNESCO Association continue to
develop in thefuture.Let us all strengthen the cooperation among us including
the Educational Board and the schools to advance internationalization of
Meguro city.
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