JICA tests Japanese learning tool in Cebu schools

MANILA, Philippines — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), through a technical cooperation program, is testing in select pilot schools in Cebu City the use of a Japanese active learning technique that can improve student engagement in classrooms.

Three schools in Cebu City – Guadalupe Elementary School, Cebu City National Science Highschool, and Mandaue Comprehensive National Highschool – are being introduced to the so-called Knowledge Constructive Jigsaw (KCJ) method developed by the Saitama Prefecture Board of Education.

Jica said this is in line with the Philippines’ goal of improving its educational system and building a competitive workforce.

KCJ is one of the strategies under Japan’s active learning methodology that deviates from traditional teacher-centered model of lectures and rote memorization with the goal of boosting engagement of students in classrooms and develop critical thinking skills.

JICA said promoting active learning would enable Filipino students to make better use of the knowledge they acquired from school in the long-term.

The activity is a component of JICA’s Technical Cooperation for Grassroots Project (TCGP) that aims to implement development projects of Japanese non-profit groups, local governments, and universities using Japanese knowledge and experience.

“Through the project, JICA aims to share Japanese know-how and techniques in implementing 21st century education model that veers away from spoon-fed educational experience to techniques that engage students and foster thinking skills,” said JICA section chief Flerida Chan.

A group of educators from the pilot schools and from the Region 7 office of the Department of Education (DepEd) and central office have visited Saitama this year to study the active learning model and study best practices in teaching in Japanese schools.

Historically, Japan’s economic resurgence depended on education and human resource development among other factors, said JICA.

Its engagement with the country’s education sector is primarily through the construction of classrooms, capacity building of teachers and people-to-people exchange.