countries, and other areas that is difficult to receive the assistance, and provides aid to enable individuals who have completed primary education to continue further education. Through this assistance, at least 7 million children will be able to receive the high-quality educational environment. In addition, Japan has proposed “School for All,” a basic educational aid model that is designed to provide access to education for all children. As part of its new policy, working together with schools, regions, communities, and governments, Japan is engaged to improve the learning environment in the variety of aspects such as (i) quality education (improving the quality of teachers), (ii) school based management, (iii) inclusive education for children disadvantaged attending school due to poverty, gender, disability, and others, and (iv) safe learning environment (provision of school facilities, health and sanitation).

At the breakout session for education at the MDGs Follow-up Meeting held in Tokyo in June 2011, the theme of improving quality of education was discussed and established a comprehensive document of examples of effective approaches.

In addition, regarding the “Fast Track Initiative (FTI)” (see “Terminology” on page 34), a global assistance framework aiming at achieving universal primary education by 2015, Japan has served as a G8 co-chair and member of the Steering Committee since January 2008, and has been proactively involved in FTI discussions and reform efforts. Further, Japan’s contributions to FTI-related funds from FY2007 to FY2010 totaled approximately $5.5 million.

In April 2008, Japan delivered a message at the International Symposium on Self-Reliance and Sustainability of EFA, which stressed the need for further improvement in basic education in both quality and

A Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer serving at an elementary school in Ghana (Photo: Shoko Mori)

Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuo Yamahana visits an elementary school in Bangladesh, where a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer provides environmental education

quantity, enhancement of support for diverse educational stages beyond basic education, partnership between education and other fields, and participatory efforts that involve all people concerned both domestic and abroad. Specific initiatives to Africa that have been announced and steadily implemented a five-year plan from 2008 to achieve the commitment to construct 1,000 primary and secondary schools (containing roughly 5,500 classrooms) benefiting approximately 400,000 children, to provide capacity development for 100,000 mathematics and science teachers (about 300,000 teachers worldwide), and to improve school management for 10,000 schools in Africa.

Afghanistan is a country with an estimated illiterate population of approximately 11 million (about 40% of the population) due to the impact of three decades of civil war. The government of Afghanistan has established a goal of providing 3.6 million people with literacy education by 2014. Since 2008, Japan is contributing to the promotion of literacy education in Afghanistan with a

Because classrooms in Bhutan are small and dark, sometimes class is held outside under blue skies (Photo: Kensaku Seki/JICA)