Last week, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif said the ministry aims to implement the Japanese Tokkatsu model across the country’s public schools, in cooperation with the Japanese government.
Tokkatsu focuses on the development of a child’s non-cognitive skills by fostering their autonomous abilities, social and independent attitudes, and establishing human relationships that form the basis for academic achievement.
Tokkatsu in Egypt’s schools is implemented through several activities including classroom discussions, class instructions, a daily coordinator, and cleaning, similar to what is applied in schools in Japan, according to the website of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The system is currently applied in 55 Japanese schools in Egypt where 16,000 students are taught the Egyptian curriculum together with Tokkatsu.
The ministry statement came as part of the celebration marking 70 years of developmental cooperation between Egypt and Japan. The event was attended by Iwai Fumio, Japanese ambassador to Egypt, Kato Ken, chief representative of JICA in Egypt, and Hani Helal, secretary-general of the Egyptian Education Partnership along with representatives from various ministries and agencies.
Tokkatsu was introduced in Egypt following President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi’s visit to Japan in 2016. He said he was impressed by the Japanese education system and decided to enhance cooperation with Tokyo. In 2017, the first Egyptian-Japanese school was established in partnership with JICA.
According to the plan outlined by Abdel-Latif, the academic year 2024-25 would see Tokkatsu being implemented in 100 public schools across 16 governorates. Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, Tokkatsu is to be expanded to 1,700 public schools nationwide. “The ministry will train at least 30,000 teachers on Tokkatsu in public schools.”
Abdel-Latif reiterated that Egyptian-Japanese educational collaboration is a “continuous success story, reflecting the leadership’s commitment to enhancing the quality of education and human resource development.” The Japanese education system focuses on building students’ character and developing their leadership skills, focusing on creativity and thinking rather than memorisation.
Ministry of Education and Technical Education Spokesman Shadi Zalata told Al-Ahram Weekly that Tokkatsu includes regular classroom cleaning by the students, participation in school cleanliness, teaching them healthy eating habits, self-protection, behavioural practices, teamwork, problem-solving, and role assignment. “The model would also focus on improving group activities, adaptability, maturity, health, safety, understanding personal differences, community membership, volunteerism, empathy, and developing daily healthy habits for both body and mind,” Zalata said.
Tokkatsu would also encourage students to address classroom and school issues through collaborative, real-life activities, preparing them for future social interactions and work-life balance. “It will provide students with opportunities to engage in group work and collaborate with peers to achieve common goals,” Zalata said.
Members of the Education and Scientific Research Committee in parliament have praised the minister’s decision, calling it a positive step towards diversifying educational methods and fostering educational reform.
MP Hani Abaza emphasised the importance of unifying Egypt’s educational system by integrating beneficial elements from various educational models to establish a distinct Egyptian approach.
“Egypt has previously benefited from similar successful experiences, such as the German schools, and that expanding Japanese schools aligns with these positive initiatives,” Abaza said.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 6 March, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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