https : // surala.jp

IMPACTPPACTMANAGEMENTREPORT 2022
FY 2022 Activity Report

Bringing transformation to educationand empowerment to children.
There are children in this world who do not have adequate access to education
due to various reasons including gap in academic ability, lack of income, and regional disparities.
We provide children with new learning experiences that are tailored to their individual needs.
Through these learning experiences, children acquire true academic skills that can be used fora lifetime and more importantly, realize that “hard work will pay off.”
We will work with schools, cram schools, and other educational institutions
to build new forms of learning to make this happen.

SuRaLa Net Co., Ltd.
7F, PMO Uchikanda, 1-14-10, Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo
TEL 03-5283-5158 FAX 03-5283-5159 https : // surala.jp/en/

SuRaLa Net Co., Ltd.
November 2023

Greetings

Social issues SuRaLa Net aims to solve and the path to solutions- Takahiko Yunokawa, Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Various challenges children are facing may continue into their future and into the next generation. SuRaLa Net desires toWith the corporate philosophy of “Bringing transformation to education and empowerment tocontribute to breaking such a vicious cycle and reducing further disparities. To achieve them, children need to be financiallychildren,” SuRaLa Net Co., Ltd. provides AI-based ICT education system “Surala” to approximately

independent in the future. We focus on two capabilities to reach these goals.

2,500* schools and cram schools in Japan. Outside of Japan, we also offer “Surala Ninja!,” an ICT
math learning material for elementary school children. Continuing to grow by solving educational

1. “Cognitive Abilities” such as academic performanceissues, including providing learning opportunities for children with developmental or learning

2. “Noncognitive abilities” such as problem-solving skills, cooperativeness, and autonomy

disabilities, school absenteeism, and economically disadvantaged households, the company was
listed on the TSE Mothers (now the TSE Growth Market) in 2017 as a leading EdTech startup
company. *As of December 31, 2022
In 2020, we started to assess the impact of our business to visualize logically what social issues we

We believe that cognitive and noncognitive abilities are developed by cultivating a sense of “I can do it if I try” and that these
Takahiko Yunokawa, CEOwill solve and what outcomes we aim to achieve. We took up four social issues, namely “school absenteeism,” “developmental
and learning disabilities,” “poverty,” and “poor academic performance,” as the social impact of our business and evaluated themfrom both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Our challenge for impact assessment has been highly praised as anincredibly unique and innovative approach for an EdTech company among IT venture companies in Japan.
Expanding “Surala” domestically and internationally and providing all children in the world with the opportunity to receive ahigh-quality education at a reasonable price will help to solve various educational disparity issues.

abilities can be gained by accumulating self-confidence and small successful experiences. We believe that “Surala” can help
children accumulate successful experiences through the opportunity of “learning” that is equally given to children who receive
compulsory education, which will have a significant social impact.
“Surala” is used in various places such as clam schools, schools, and homes. We recognize that users include children and theirfamilies with various challenges. Aiming to contribute to children and their families facing difficulties and challenges such as“school absenteeism,” “learning/developmental disabilities,” “poverty,” and “poor academic performance,” SuRaLa Net has
examined the impact on these children and families and each path to making that impact and clarified them in this Impact
Management Report.
Mission of SuRaLa Net: “Eliminating educational inequality”

SuRaLa Net and Impact Management

Current Status

Vision of SuRaLa Net (Final outcome)Children with Challenges

Reduce disparities

Company philosophy of SuRaLa Net
There are children in this world who do not have adequate access to education due to various reasons including gap inacademic ability, lack of income, and regional disparities. We provide children with new learning experiences that are tailored totheir individual needs. Through these learning experiences, children acquire true academic skills that can be used for a lifetimeand more importantly, realize that “hard work will pay off.” We will work with schools, cram schools, and other educational
institutions to build new forms of learning to make this happen.

Improve
Cognitive Ability

Learning
ChildrenAbsentee childrenChildren with
developmental disabilities

Learn with
SuRaLa Net

Experience
Self-Confidence
and Success

Improve
Noncognitive Ability

AdultsActively Working
in the Society

Poor academic performance

Impact management

Poverty

The increasing global interest in building a sustainable society, exemplified by the ESG and SDGs initiatives, has resulted incompanies being expected to play a leading role in this effort. SuRaLa Net has been actively working to achieve “No Poverty”

The above outlines a common path for all logic models. By accumulating successes through learning ( “cognitive development” ),(SDG 1), “Good Health and Well-being” (SDG 3), “Quality Education” (SDG 4), and “Gender Equality” (SDG 5) through its

children gain confidence and become engaged in various activities ( “noncognitive development” ). As a result, they can thinkdomestic and international projects. By incorporating impact management methods into the business evaluation process,about their own higher education and career paths and make their own choices, becoming mentally and financially independent

SuRaLa Net demonstrates the positive impact of its business on society in an easily understandable manner.

adults in the future. Increasing the number of such adults will ultimately contribute to solving social issues.

Impact management is measuring and evaluating the results of business activities on society and the environment andenhancing these results by continuously improving the business. Specifically, we visualize the outcomes and strategies forachieving them in a “logic model” *, monitor the actual status, and use the analysis results for decision-making and reporting tostakeholders to implement the Plan-Do-Check-Action cycle. SuRaLa Net has conducted impact management to visualize thepaths to solutions to each of the issues and to determine the impact quantitatively on society, clarify current issues, and makethe best use of these findings in future initiatives. In addition to economic values such as sales and profits, we aim to enhance
SuRaLa Net’ s corporate value by clarifying the social value that our business has created.

* A logic model specifies the logical cause-and-effect relationships that lead to achieving the goals of a given measure.
01

Features of "Surala" ICT learning materials provided by SuRaLa Net
Surala is a grade-free system that allows children to learn systematically regardless of their grade level, starting from the point
they want to. For areas of weakness, children can proceed with their studies independently, with the AI automatically selecting
questions to help them overcome obstacles and a test function to check their knowledge and practical skills. Surala also uses
game design elements to keep children motivated rather than bored. Children can learn anywhere, as long as they have aterminal and an Internet connection, so even children with difficulty sitting at a desk can enjoy learning while having fun.

02

Main beneficiaries

CASE

# 01

Absenteechildren

Activities

OutputSystemdevelopment

SuralaShort-term outcome
C

Input
Sales activity

2. Children improvetheir lifestyle habits[Parents] 64% of
respondents indicatedthat their children had
been motivated to learn[Children] 54% of
respondents have
improved theirlifestyle habits*[Children] 84% of
the respondents havevoluntarily motivatedthemselves to learn[Parents] 48% of
respondents said that
their children had
improved theirlifestyle habits*

PeopleThingsMoney

C

1. Children will be
motivated to learn

C

3. Children willdevelop learning
habitsCP* Lifestyle habits ...

sleeping habits, eating habits,
frequency of going out,
frequency of playing games

PC

4. Children will
extend theirlearning time

17. Parents reducethe burden of teaching
their childrenChildren・ I have gained confidence in my learning ..... 54%
・I have gained confidence
in areas other than my learning ................ 35%[ Children] 50% of respondents
have improved theirunderstanding of subjects they
are neither good nor bad at

18. Parents reduce
concerns about theirchildren’ s declining
academic performanceand future

8. Children improve theiracademic performanceC

30% ofrespondents have
now acceptedthat their children
refuse to go toschool andare looking out
for them

Parents・I have learned to accept
and watch over my child’ s situation ............ 30%
・I have changed my communication style
toward my child ............................................ 44%

・We have improved
their parent-child relationship ..................... 30% or more

★ Cumulative number of children certified under the deemed school attendance system:approx. 1,200; certification rate: approx. 80%*As of March 2023

C

11. Children gain
empowerment[ Children] 54% of
respondents have gained
confidence in their learning

8′. Children improve theiracademic performance[ Children] 17% of respondents
have improved their scores insubjects they were neither goodnor bad at

C

15. Children will
become financiallyindependent
in the futureC

9′. Improvement inacademic performancebuilds children’s confidence
in areas other than learningC[ Children] 35% of
respondents have gained
confidence in areas otherthan their learning

8″. Children improve theiracademic performance[ Children] 22% of respondents
have improved their test scoresin subjects they were good at
C

16. Educational
disparities will be
reducedC

10. Children return toschool and complete
their courses

7. Children are treated asattended even if they do notshow up for schoolP

20. Parentschange theirmindset9. Improvement inacademic performance willbuild children’ s confidence
in their learning

CC

19. Parents
reduce theiremotional andtime burdensC[ Children] 11% of respondents
have improved their test scoresin subjects they were not good at[ Children] 34% of respondents
have become even better at
subjects they were good at

PLong-term outcome

C

6. Children will develop what
they like and are good at

Impact on children with school absenteeism and their parents

・ I have developed learning habits ............. 76%

23. Children will improve theirunderstanding of subjects they
are neither good nor bad at

C

Parent training

・ I have improved their lifestyle habits ........ 54%[ Children] 33% of respondents
have reduced their difficulty insubjects they are not good at[Children] 57% of
respondents feel thatthe learning plansdeveloped by theircoaches are appropriate

Already measured as KPIs /Add as an item for measurement /Outcomes to measure in the future・ I have voluntarily motivated to learn ........... 84%

5. Children will repeat learning
subjects they are not good at[Children] 76% ofrespondents havedeveloped learning
habitsP ... Parent (s)Leads to 1.

C[Children] 73% of
respondents haveextended theirlearning time

23. Children advancetheir understanding
through learning
methods tailoredto eachSurala CoachC

Medium-term outcome

C ... Child

12. Children havemore options fortheir futureC

P C

21. Parents change
how they communicate
with their children

44% of respondents havechanged their communicationstyle toward their children withschool absenteeism

13. Children canchoose their desired
academic/career path

P C

22. Parent-child relationship improves• 30% or more of respondents have
improved their parent-child relationshipC• 14% of respondents have improved
trust between parents and children

14. Children canwork at their desired
occupation

Leads to 1.

COLUMN #1
Timing of when children with school absenteeism learn with “Surala”
There are varied reasons for children who refuse to go to school, such as personal relationships and learning
delays. In the early stages of school absenteeism, gaps arise within the children between their rationality (theyshould go to school) and instinct (they do not want to go to school), and they are stuck in a state of conflicting
feelings of guilt and self-loathing. And their parents are similarly stressed.
Forcing them to engage in learning during this period is not effective. “Surala” allows children to start anywhere
to go back to the time when they were truant or unable to learn, and to learn according to their needs. Many of
the children who have been out of school and are studying with “Surala” have set time each day to work on theirstudies. “Surala” can serve as a pacesetter for home study, keeping detailed records of the units andSome children who are not attending school have difficulty in leading a regular life. By studying at “Surala” even on days when
they cannot go to school, they can establish their lifestyle and study habits, and being able to study at home gives themassignments worked on, the amount of time spent studying, and the percentage of achievement against thegoals set, and can be used to accompany the children and their guardians.

confidence and the opportunity to return to school or challenge entrance exams.
Number of survey responses：Children 63, Parents 1310304

Main beneficiaries

CASE

# 02

Developmental/
learning
disabilities

Activities

OutputSystemdevelopment

SuralaShort-term outcome
C

Input
Sales activity

PeopleC

1. Children will be
motivated to learn

2. Children improve theirlifestyle habits[Parents] 64% of respondents
indicated that their children
had been motivated to learn[Children] 70% of
respondents have improved
one of their lifestyle habits*[Children] 76% ofrespondents have voluntarily
motivated themselves to learn[Parents] 28% of
respondents indicated that
their children had improved
one of their lifestyle habits*

P

16. Parents reducethe burden of teaching
their children

ThingsP

Money

17. Parents reduce
concerns about theirchildren’s declining
academic performanceand future

Medium-term outcome

C

3. Children sustain theirconcentration (due togame-like learning materials)[ Children] 67% of
respondents have improved
their ability to concentrateon their learning

19. Parents
reduce theiremotional andtime burdens* Lifestyle habits ...

sleeping habits, eating habits,
frequency of going out,
frequency of playing games

Surala Coaches
analyze learning andlifestyle habits
identified throughinterviews withparents and propose
appropriate learning
methods[ Children] 82% of
respondents havedeveloped learning habits

KABC-II

Parent training[ Children] 24% of
respondents have reduced
their difficulty in subjects
they are not good at

P

P C

20. Parents change
their mindset[Parents] 25% of respondents
have changed how theyinteract with their children

Impacts on children with developmental / learning disabilities and their parents
Children・ I have voluntarily motivated to learn ........... 76%
・ I have improved their lifestyle habits* ........ 70%
・ I have developed learning habits ............. 82%
・ I have gained confidence in my learning ..... 56%
・I have gained confidence
in areas other than my learning ................ 37%[ Children] 50% of
respondents have improved
their understanding of
subjects they are neither
good at nor bad at

5. Children repeat learning
subjects they are notgood at (Q.“Understandingof subjects they are
not good at” )[Children] 72% of respondents
feel that the learning plansdeveloped by their coaches
are appropriate
18. Parents know
their children’scharacteristics andacademic strengths
and weaknesses

23. Children improvetheir understanding of
subjects they are neither
good nor bad at

C

6. Children advance theirunderstanding through learning
methods tailored to eachP

[ Children] 34% of
respondents have become
even better at subjects they
were good at

CCAlready measured as KPIs /Add as an item for measurement /Outcomes to measure in the future

4. Children develop what
they like and are good at

C

7. Children learn lessunevenly, and their learning
time becomes more stable
P

C

Parents・I have changed
how I interact with my child .................... 25%
・ I have started praising my children more .... 48%

・I have more conversations with my children
and/or understand their feelings .............. 25% or more

21. Parents change how they
communicate with their children[ Parents]• 48% of respondents have started praising
their children more
• 35% of respondents do not focus on what
their children can’ t do and leave it at that

C ... ChildP ... Parent (s)Long-term outcome

CC

8. Children improvetheir academic
performance[ Children] 40% of
respondents have
improved their testscores in subjects they
were good at
C

8′. Children improvetheir academic
performance[ Children] 37% of
respondents have
improved their scoresin subjects they wereneither good nor bad at
C

8″. Children improvetheir academic
performance[ Children] 32% of
respondents have
improved their testscores in subjects they
were not good at

P C

22. Parent-child relationship improves[ Parents]• 25% of respondents have increased
conversations with their children• 32% of respondents have gained a better
understanding of their children’ s feelingLeads to 1.

Leads to 1.

9. Improvement inacademic performancebuilds children’ s
confidence in theirlearning[ Children] 56% ofrespondents havegained confidence intheir learning

C

9′. Improvement inacademic performancebuilds children’ s
confidence in areas
other than learningC

10. Children gain
empowerment[ Children] 37% of
respondents have gained
confidence in areas otherthan their learningC

11. Children havemore options
for their futureC

12. Children canchoose their desired
academic/career pathCC

13. Children canwork at their desired
occupation in the futureC

14. Children will
become financiallyindependent in the
future15. Educational
disparities will be
reducedCOLUMN #2“Surala" incorporates inclusive concepts to make it easier for children with
developmental disabilities to learn.
Children with developmental disabilities may face difficulties in school life and schoolwork because they cannot
cope with group education at school due to their pronounced strengths and weaknesses or because they havedifficulty communicating with their surroundings, whichhinder their motivation to learn. To support the learning ofMany children with developmental and learning disabilities have unique ways of learning. Even children who have difficultysuch children, SuRaLa Net has developed a version ofunderstanding something just by listening to it once can learn at their own pace with “Surala,” which allows them to listen to“Surala” for lower grades of elementary school under the

explanations repeatedly. In addition, SuRaLa Net provides parents with information on learning and interacting with their children

supervision of “Child Developmental Science Research,”according to their characteristics. Some parents have reported that their children's learning motivation has stabilized, andan organization specializing in developmental disabilities.

Lecture screen for understanding number sense.

academic performance has improved.
Number of survey responses：Children 57, Parents 126

0506

Main beneficiaries

CASE

# 03

Poor academic
performance

Activities

OutputSystemdevelopment

SuralaShort-term outcome
CC

1. Game-like learningmaterials encouragechildren to learn

Input

C

C

5. Children develop
learning habits

8. Children develop
what they like and aregood at

4. Children
enjoy learning[Children] 76% ofrespondents havedeveloped learning
habitsC

Sales activity

Medium-term outcome

People11. Children improvetheir academic
performanceThingsC

C

3. Children improvetheir comprehension

6. Children
extend theirlearning time
[ Children]C

73% ofrespondents
have extended
their learningtime

7. Children can learn
at homeMoney
P

15. Parents reducethe burden ofteaching their children

Already measured as KPIs /Add as an item for measurement /Outcomes to measure in the futureP

16. Parents canmonitor theirchildren’s learning
progressP

24. Parent-childrelationshipimproves

14. Teachers canprovide individualizedteaching to children
C

Surala CUP

25. Daily accumulationof learning leads tochildren’s confidence

17. Parents
reduce theiremotional andtime burdens

C P

TTraining for teachers(on how to provide
individualizedteaching)

9. Children improvetheir academic
performance insubjects they areneither good nor
bad atC[ Children] 64% of
respondents have
improved theiracademic performancein subjects they areneither good nor
bad atC

10. Children repeat
learning subjects
they are notgood at(Q.“Understanding of
subjects they are notgood at” )[ Children] 42% of
respondents have
reduced their difficultyin subjects they are
not good atC

11′. Children improvetheir academic
performance[ Children] 36% ofrespondents have
improved their scoresin subjects they wereneither good nor
bad atC

11″. Children improvetheir academic
performance[ Children] 34% of
respondents have
improved their testscores in subjects
they were
not good at

T ... TeacherC

18. Children gain
empowerment

C

12. Improvementin academic
performance builds
children’s confidence
in their learning[ Children] 43% of
respondents have
improved their testscores in subjects they
were good at

C

P ... Parent (s)Long-term outcome

C[ Children] 59% of
respondents havebecome even better at
subjects they weregood at

2. Children learn
at their level

C ... ChildC[ Children] 68% of
respondents havegained confidence intheir learning

19. Children havemore options
for their futureC

20. Children canchoose their desired
academic/career pathC

13. Improvementin academic
performance builds
children’ s confidence
in areas other thanlearning

C

21. Children canwork at their desired
occupation[ Children] 58% of
respondents havegained confidence inareas other than theirlearning

C

22. Children will
become financiallyindependent
in the futureC

23. Educational
disparities will be
reduced26. Children are motivatedby receiving recognition otherthan academic grades

COLUMN #3
Impact on children of poor academic performance

・ I have extended my learning time ......... 73 ％>> Tailored and optimized learning opportunities can be provided
The test function of “Surala” with AI technology is programmed to automatically generate questions on each

Children・ I have developed learning habits ........... 76 ％“Surala” is effective in eliminating academic performance gaps

・I have gained confidence in my learning ................................ 68％
・I have gained confidence in areas other than my learning .... 58％

child’ s weak points, allowing children to check and review their weak areas with the test. Each child’ s level ofunderstanding can be assessed from the learning data, allowing teachers to follow up with children based on thedata.

Everyone at school needs to work on the same units, but with “Surala,” children can accumulate small successes and develop a>> Reduce educational disparities in depopulated area

sense of “I can do it too” by solving exercises in the units that match their level of understanding, starting with the ones they can

In depopulated areas with a shortage of teachers and cram schools located far away, children cannot securedo. In addition, children can proceed with their learning according to their level of understanding, regardless of grade level, as

learning time outside of class hours, and it is not easy to compete with each other and improve their motivation to

the content of learning is not separated by grade level through systematic learning that promotes basic understanding. As alearn. A demonstration project conducted at a junior high school on Hachijojima (Hachijo Island) using “Surala”

result, users of “Surala” with poor academic performance responded that they “gained confidence in learning” more than otherwith 25 second-year junior high school students showed that 95% of the students improved their English scores,

users. Children who have gained confidence that they can do it have become more motivated to engage in activities outside of

In this way, “Surala” has shown its usefulness as a solution to issues unique to depopulated areas.

their studies, and some of them have become more positive and interested in society and their own future.
Number of survey responses：Children 30, Parents 56

07

08

Main beneficiaries

CASE

# 04

Activities

OutputSystemdevelopment

SuralaShort-term outcome

Medium-term outcome

C ... ChildP ... Parent (s)T ... Teacher

Long-term outcome

PovertyC

Input
Sales activity

PeopleC

2. Level-appropriate
learning allows
children to continue
to learn

12. Children extend
their learning timeC

13. Children will
repeat learning
subjects they are
not good at

3. Children develop
IT literacyC

Calculation contest

4. Children expand
their perspectives bymaking contact withchildren from othercountries

C

T

Surala Usage
Guideline

22. Children gain
empowerment

16. Children improvetheir academic
performanceC

17. Improvement inacademic performance
will build children’s
confidence

24. Children canchoose their desired
academic/career pathfor their future

15. Children’schanges increase
parental well-being

25. Children canwork at their desired
occupation

21. Children's
learning environmentis improved
Leads to 2.

8. Children become
more focused onlearning

C P

T

27. Educational
disparities will be
reduced9. Employed women’s
incomes increase

10. Employed women
have more options
for their future

26. Children will
become financiallyindependent
in the futureC

20. Parents become
more supportive of
their children’s
learning

T

T

C

C

19. Parents change
their mindset
P

23. Children havemore options
for their futureC

18. Parents
recognize theimportance of theirchildren’s learningPP

6. Teachers acquireautonomy anddiscipline

C

C

P

5. Children increase
their motivation
to learn

7. Children acquireautonomy anddiscipline
Employment of
women with economic
difficulties

C

14. Children further
improve theirfavorite subject,
mathChildren obtain
opportunities where
they can challengethemselves (e.g.,
calculation contests)

Money

Already measured as KPIs /Add as an item for measurement /Outcomes to measure in the futureC

C

・B2C sales
・Municipalities
・NPO

Things1. Children canaccess learningmaterials throughinexpensiveor free services

T

11. Employed womenand their families havebetter livelihoods

COLUMN #4

Impact on children in poverty
elementary school children. “Before starting to learn with ‘Surala Ninja!,’ most of the children used to do calculations with their

SuRaLa Net’ s digital math materials are introduced
to NGOs and NPOs in Sri Lanka one after anotherfingers, but once they started using it, they gradually learned to do

SuRaLa Net has been working in developing countries since 2014. We

mental arithmetic, and their math scores improved dramatically.

have introducing “Surala Ninja!” in private schools, we provide mathInterestingly, the improvement in academic performance also seems

classes for children from low-income families in Sri Lanka. We also

to have a positive impact on the children’ s personal development,”

participate in educational support by providing “Surala Ninja!” throughsaid Yamuna.

organizations such as SOS Children’ s Villages, an NGO that accepts

Yamuna, who runs a cram school in Sri Lanka, teaches math using “Surala Ninja!,” a Japanese-style math ICT material for

Sri Lanka has a shortage of quality math instructors, and the highorphans and children.

Learning screen of “Surala Ninja!” .

tuition fees required to obtain a certain quality of learning make it

Our demonstration project to improve math skills using “Surala Ninja!” has been well received and will be

unaffordable for low-income families. The impact of providing

introduced at 15 facilities, including local educational institutions, international NGOs, and NPOs starting in 2023.

children with a sense of “I can do this!” through enjoyable online

We will further promote the introduction of the system in Sri Lanka, and by partnering with NGOs and NPOs inlearning at a relatively affordable cost will increase their options forIndonesia and the Philippines, we aim to further expand our business.

the future, not just one subject of math.

09

10

COLUMN #5
The number of elementary and junior high school students with school
absenteeism exceeded 240,000.
The number of elementary and junior high school students with school absenteeism reached a record high of

Our Unique Approach
SuRaLa Net offers unique events that are open to all regions, ages, and environments. Many children participate in competitions
every year not only for academic performance but also for “effort,” “ability to think about social issues,” “teamwork,” etc.

more than 240,000 *1. The number of inquiries to SuRaLa Net regarding the deemed school attendance system isalso expected to increase by approximately 1.5 times compared to last year *2, reaching a record high.
Enabling children to learn at their own pace and on their own, “Surala” is very well suited to the learning needs ofchildren with school absenteeism, and we have been actively supporting them. In addition to home study, cramschools, free schools, and NPOs, in recent years, even local governments develop their approaches to support
children with school absenteeism by leveraging “Surala.”>> Free schools realize grading of children with school absenteeism“Manabiya Kanae,” a completely individualized coaching cram school ( Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture )Operating three schools (a tutoring school, a correspondence school, and a free school), “Manabiya Kanae”
supports children by using SuRaLa Net’ s ICT materials and interacting with each child individually to assess theirlearning progress and level of understanding. Kanae is developing a new support scheme for children with school
absenteeism in close cooperation with the local government; learning at Kanae is qualified for the deemed school

Surala CUP
About 300,000 users worldwide compete on the “amount of effort (hard work)” instead of scores ordeviation values“Surala CUP” is an event in which children worldwide who use SuRaLa Net’ s ICT materials compete and are evaluated based on
the amount of effort they put in for a year, such as the number of learning hours and the number of units they completed.
Children in Indonesia and Sri Lanka who use the overseas version of “Surala,” “Surala Ninja!” and children who use Surala in the
UK and South Korea will also participate in this worldwide event.
For example, “I became good at history, which I was not good at,” or “I got a perfect score on an English vocabulary test, which
I disliked,” children can work on their weak subjects because Surala Cup is not based on scores or deviation values. This event
will help children gain confidence through the experience of “I can do it if I try!”

attendance system, and grading is realized. https://manabiya-kanae.jp/freeschool/>> Demonstration project to support children with school absenteeism with cutting-edge

technology and educational data

Kumamoto City Board of Education
The Kumamoto City Board of Education started a demonstration project in 2022 to support the increasing
number of children with school absenteeism through virtual space with the participation of NTT Communications
Corporation. This virtual space gives pupils/students the opportunity to gather and communicate freely. A
dashboard centrally managing various learning data, including “Surala”, visualizes each student's learning status
and transformation, enabling adequate support tailored to each.
National and international award winners share their joy at the online awards ceremony.

*1 Based on the survey by the MEXT in 2022 *2 Based on data acquired by SuRaLa Net as of the end of June 2023

COLUMN #6

Surala Active Learning

Household spending on cram schools reaches record-highParticipants work on solving social issues through ICT, regardless of grade level or region

The “Survey of Children’s Learning Expenditures” for FY2021*3 released by the MEXT shows that household“Surala Active Learning” has been held annually since 2015 as an

expenditures on cram schools for both public and private elementary and junior high school students continued

event that provides opportunities for pupils/students to acquire

to increase, with annual average expenditures at record highs for both public and private schools.

21st-century skills, such as problem solving and communication– Public elementary school student : 81,158 yen, a 52% increase from FY2018– Public elementary school student : 250,196 yen, a 23% increase from FY2018– Private elementary school student : 273,629 yen, an 8% increase from FY2018– Private elementary school student : 175,435 yen, a 14% increase from FY2018
The percentage of families spending money on cram schools has not changed significantly for elementary school
students, with 38.9% of public (down 0.2 points) and 73.0% of private (down 2.1 points). This means that cramschool expenditures school per child appear to have increased.

skills, which are higher-level academic skills, by utilizing knowledge of subject studies learned in daily classes and through theSurala ICT materials. A total of more than 2,300 students haveparticipated to date. The event has been highly evaluated byteachers and parents who look forward to seeing the changes in
the children as they become aware of their interests, discover
their dreams and hopes for the future, such as choosing academ-

The final presentation competition online

ic/career path, and experience the joy of learning and become
more optimistic about their subsequent studies.

*

3 Based on “Survey of Children's Learning Expenditures" by the MEXT”

https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/toukei/chousa03/gakushuuhi/kekka/k_detail/mext_00001.html

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Voices from beneficiaries

Child with developmental or learning disabilities – Ms. H, whose child has a developmental disability

Interpersonal relationships improved as the complex about low academic performance
disappeared

Bringing transformation to educationand empowerment to children.

After starting to learn with “Surala,” his complex about low academic performance has been eliminated, and his“Surala” is ICT educational material that started developing in 2005,

friendships have improved. Complex about low academic performance will probably make him mean to his

featuring an interactive lecture function with animated characters.

friends. He used to say, “My friends make fun of me. I want to die.” However, this stopped as he started learningwith “Surala” and improving his academic performance. He made a lot of friends and was able to graduate fromelementary school the other day.

It has been developed with the cooperation of well-known instructors in English, Japanese,arithmetic/mathematics, science, and social studies,
as well as university professors with expertise in e-learning research.

Furthermore, since I am no longer concerned about his academic performance, I (the parent) no longer say, “Youshould study. Why don’t you understand it?” I believe the parent-child relationship has improved.
According to his teacher at the school, my son is now a role model for the younger students, and he now tells
them to “study hard” and so on.

Unlike conventional one-way learning styles in which a teacher or instructor teaches students,“Surala” is an ICT learning material that optimizes individualized learning
according to each student's level of understanding and progress by applying gamification
to increase motivation and willingness to learn and having AI automatically going back to the unit
in which the student has difficulty and asking questions.

Absentee child #1 – Mr. T, whose child has been absent from school

My child had no hope for the future, but after starting to learn with “Surala”, she began
to think about the future on her own
My daughter used to say, “I don’ t want to study or work,” but by starting to learn with “Surala,” she seems tohave begun to think about her future. She started asking me, “What do I have to do to get this kind of job?” shebecame interested in various professions that appear on TV. Now, she has been asking me all kinds of questions
related to professions.
When she was not attending school, we applied to the school to have her learning with “Surala” treated as school

SuRaLa Net Co., Ltd. plans, develops, and sells ICT educational materials
based on the basic concepts of “easy to understand,” “easy to do,” and “fun to learn,”
including “Surala,” and provides consulting services for schools and cram schools.

Company name
SuRaLa Net Co., Ltd.
Date of incorporation

attendance, which allowed her to take the high school entrance exam and pass it successfully. “Surala” is helpful

August 29, 2008

because the system records the time spent learning, so it records her efforts. The records can be submitted toAddress

the school and have given her confidence.

7F, PMO Uchikanda, 1-14-10, Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 101-0047
Contact information
TEL+81.3.5283.5158

Absentee child #2 – Ms. Y, whose child has been absent from school

Capital stock

Became a child with independence who “thinks and decides for himself”

283,777,000 yen

My son can decide and act as if to say, “It's time for ‘Surala.’” I believe that starting to learn with “Surala” helped
him regain his academic performance and his confidence in his ability to go to school.
Being able to go to school makes him learn various things from the people around him, and he is able tocommunicate with others a little more easily. When he cannot leave home, he learns with “Surala” to build up his
confidence and gradually connect with the outside world. “Surala” is a bridge for him to the outside world.

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Business description
Main Business: Provision of e-learning education services and related operational consulting services,
provision of marketing and promotion services, including website operation
Websitehttps : // surala.jp/en/

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