Inspiration from Japan: Visit of the Educational Program Center Staff of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools AEO to Tokyo
In November 2024, representatives of the Educational Program Center of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools AEO — Director Zhanar Abdildina and Senior Managers Assem Botayeva and Liliya Altynbayeva — visited Tokyo, Japan. The purpose of the visit included:
- Participation in the 8th International Conference on Education and E-Learning (ICEEL 2024, https://iceel.org/), where they presented their research.
- Studying the implementation of the holistic Tokkatsu approach to education in Japanese schools (https://holisticedu.padeco.education/en/).
Studying the Holistic Approach to Education
Magome Elementary School (Grades 1–6, ages 6–12) (https://www.ota-school.ed.jp/magome-es/index.html)
Magome Elementary School, a public institution with a 146-year history, aims to cultivate students who are healthy in mind and body, rich in individuality and creativity, and capable of contributing to their community and the international society. Its key educational goals are:
- Healthy children — physically and mentally resilient students.
- Emotionally rich children — individuals who value themselves and others, with a strong sense of creativity.
- Thinking children — active learners who engage in dialogue and think deeply.
The school emphasizes a respectful atmosphere, discipline, and traditional values, with calligraphy lessons fostering patience and focus.
Seiritsu Gakuen School (Grades 7–12, ages 13–18) (https://www.seiritsu.ac.jp/)
Seiritsu Gakuen Junior and Senior High School in Japan emphasizes holistic education, combining academic excellence with character development. Its unique educational framework, the “Visible and Invisible Academic Skills” approach, fosters cognitive abilities and soft skills essential for 21st-century global citizens.
This private school focuses on project-based and practical learning. During the visit, the principal showcased a student-led initiative involving the development and production of cheese cookies in partnership with a local enterprise.
The school also emphasizes extracurricular activities, promoting sports such as volleyball, football, and badminton to foster teamwork and leadership skills.
A common practice in both schools is that students clean their classrooms at the end of the school day, encouraging responsibility and community care.
During the visit, the team of the Educational Program Center presented their research at the 8th International Conference on Education and E-Learning (ICEEL 2024) and participated in discussions with international colleagues.
The implementation of the holistic Tokkatsu approach in Japanese schools was also studied. This approach combines traditional values and innovative methods to nurture well-rounded individuals. The participants noted that this method aligns with the Development Strategy of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools, which focuses on the holistic development of children. The elements of Tokkatsu can be adapted for implementation in Intellectual Schools to enrich existing innovative educational practices.
