The Education not only Means Imparting Modern Bookish Knowledge

Khadga Bahadur K. C.

Graduate School, Nagasaki University

When this writer has glanced a Japanese elementary school, made a lot of astonishments and raised himself a pertinent question? Does education mean only imparting so-called modern bookish knowledge to the students? When this author has visited that school which is affiliated with Nagasaki University and lies near by the Bunkyo- Machi, University Campus complex of Nagasaki City of Japan. Of course, it is an ideal concept to have an integrated education system from elementary to university standard within one umbrella. It has been heard that being an university affiliated school it is very difficult to get admission in such school. In fact, entrance exam system from the elementary standard consolidates check mechanism strongly by which the disqualified one can not get chance to enter into the institution who later may pollute the academic environment and turn into a burden for scrutining the quality.

While entering the main gate of the school, it could be easily estimated that how well to do are the Japanese school teachers. Since many private cars seemed in parking quite in front of the courtyard of school building. Actually availabilities of the services and facilities to the teachers definitely boost up their morale and motivation which undoubtedly concentrate their endeavors towards better teaching learning activates although this is not only key factor for bringing quality education. Although the school looked uncolored and had little old building, the class rooms and corridors were neat and clean. Corridors were full of racks for individual students where they could keep their belongings safely during the school hours. Nobody can enter into the main building without taking their shoes off. Each should put on the sandal keeping over there. It is a good idea to keep the place neat and clean.

In classroom, each student has a nice desk and table-like bench with drawer where the students can keep their books and note copies. Students were hanging their dolls and game instruments in the desk instead. More interestingly, each desk is kept for one girl in between two boys, that in long the run of their schooling might decrease the gap between the men and women and can contribute to bring gender equality in the society. Modern facilities like video-recorder, television and computer including a small microscope were installed there even for grade 3 students. Lunch is use to be provided by the school itself with nominal cost. More than that the classroom wall was full of saying and Japanese proverbs for discipline, hard-workingness, patience, tolerance and some other quotations of ethical importance. By which, it was easy to analyse that Japanese system has become successful so far by keeping their cultural heritage and ethical value intact with the rapid modernization of this present stage.

Teaching-learning system seemed more scientific, the students even from elementary standard were very participatory. It was very strange for one from a least developed country that even for the elementary students Japan has been introduced research -oriented program that they have go around the nearby shops or markets and it use to be asked them to explore the new ideas for bringing more customers to their shops. It is a great option to encourage the students towards researches and innovations. Only classroom teaching, rotting with pile of books is not produce creative minds for change. It is known fact that Japan is famous for her work-holic culture only because of honesty and hard-working habit of the people of Japan has brought this country in such a position. It means small children of elementary are always clean their classroom and even toilet they are using there was no any subordinate working staffs at that school and all the sanitation works were being performed by the students themselves. If one is encouraged to work his or her work by oneself from the early schooling period it definitely build up the self-relianceness and strong work-regarded rituals which may significantly contribute the development of nation itself. Since to write is hailed from Nepal, a semi-feudal Hindu country where the hard workers are not often regarded and if some schools have such rule to seep the rooms by the students themselves the parents seem reluctant to send their kids to that sort of school thinking that these types of schools are only fitted for low-bred kids. In other words, working oneself regarded as the job of lower caste or people of inferior strata.

However, Japan is one of the world economic superpower which is outrightly injustice to compare the materialistic facilities with the country like Nepal but the illustrations of those elementary school children is enough to learn for the country like ours where always hard-working is disregarded. The students sound happy with robust and healthy physique may due to their access of nutritious foods, proper health-care and availability of most modern physical facilities. They are very active in classrooms activities which might have caused by their inherent learning culture, family surroundings and well-to-doness. Modesty is also one of their invaluable ornaments which one can hardly expect from the school students from ay to her parts of the globe.

These days pupils are seems even awkward to greet their seniors and teachers which Japanese society and students are still keeping intact and behave with full of modesty and formalities that it could be seen in that school too. Even small kids were greeting with konnichiwa (good afternoon) though they were busy at sweeping the floor. They were intending to become closer with the new comers that proves the culture of hospitality. Every teachers were well dressed up which is an utmost requirement for the teaching-learning system. A perfectly neat, well dressed up and cultured teacher may only deserve to dictate to follow ethical value to his/her pupils. The other most interesting culture what it could be viewed over there is even the small kids were also being addressed by their teachers as san after their name which is one of the best idea to establish the culture to respect the juniors from the seniors.

In sum what can be said that Japan keeping her ethical as well the cultural heritage intact albeit she has gone much ahead in the process of modernization. Better education with well equipped modern scientific facilities is must but at the same time one should not forget to insist their new generation to learn more about their traditional value system with the adoption of new innovative thoughts and techniques.

(November 15, 2002)