Japanese School in Bangladesh

Japanese School in Bangladesh International Collaboration

Both institutions were established through collaborative efforts involving Japanese educational leadership. Narayankul Dream Model School & College (NDMSC) was founded in 2013 through a partnership involving Basic Development Partners (BDP), Public Interest Incorporated Foundation School Aid Japan (SAJ), and the Ikubunkan Institute of Education in Tokyo, Japan. Japan International Dream School & College (JIDSC) was subsequently established in 2017, also following an innovative Japanese educational model in collaboration with the Ikubunkan Institute of Education.

The institutions share a common visionary leader, Miki Watanabe, who serves as the founder of both NDMSC and the founder of the "Watami" group, a business that spans food service, nursing, agriculture, and environment industries in Japan. Mr. Watanabe is also the Chairman of Ikubunkan Gakuen (a high school in Tokyo) and chairs the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation School Aid Japan, which provides educational support to children in countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Nepal. His personal belief is that the achievement of "thank you" is the utmost happiness of human beings, and he wishes for NDMSC to be the center point of a dream where the world is united and "overflowed with the smiles of joy"

Three Pillars of Japanese School in Dream Education

At the heart of both schools is the philosophy of "Dream Education," which aims to develop individuals who can think and behave independently. This transformative vision rests on three interwoven pillars: Humanity, Scholastic Ability, and Globalization.

1. Humanity: This is considered the foundation, stressing that true success requires strong moral values and good character. Students are cultivated with qualities such as empathy, kindness, honesty, and respect, with the core teaching that a warm heart is just as important as a sharp mind.

2. Scholastic Ability: While dedicated to academic excellence, this pillar emphasizes critical thinking, curiosity, and the utilization of knowledge rather than mere memorization. The goal is to raise well-rounded individuals who are intellectually capable but also morally grounded, believing that academic brilliance is incomplete without ethics or empathy.

3. Globalization: Students are prepared for an interconnected world by nurturing an appreciation for global cultures. This is notably achieved through real international relationships, such as the partnership with Ikubunkan High School in Tokyo, facilitating cultural exchange programs and direct interaction with students from a different part of the world.

Unique Japanese Management and Student Development

The institutions employ management styles heavily influenced by Japanese practices. At Narayankul Dream Model School & College, the Principal and Vice Principal sit together with all the teachers in one room, a characteristic of Japanese Management. Both institutions are currently led by Principal Katsushi Furusawa.

Additionally, both schools utilize Eight Strategic Projects (including Academic Development, Dream Project, and Human Resource Project) for comprehensive management, with teachers and leaders working together to implement new strategies and innovations. Daily collective morning meetings are held to share important updates and start the day with motivation.

The schools exist solely for the welfare and happiness of their students, focusing on helping them pursue and accomplish their dreams.

Core Dream Programs in Japanese School in Bangladesh:

• Dream Board: This impactful tool encourages every student to reflect on their deepest aspirations (e.g., doctor, engineer) and write them down to be pinned prominently in the classroom. This constant visibility serves as a source of daily motivation, keeping their focus sharp.
• Dream Diary: Students use this diary not only for recording class activities but also for planning every single moment of their week, guiding them in a planned way toward achieving their goals.
• Dream Counseling (Symbolically called Dream Therapy): This service is implemented for all students from class six to twelve. It aims to improve student quality, find solutions to problems, and ensure students are proactive in their activities to reach their goals. This counseling system helps ensure a safe, nonviolent, and effective learning environment for all students.
• Dream Motivation & Achievers Program: This initiative connects students directly with their aspirations. The school arranges visits to environments related to their goals (like an airport for an aspiring pilot) or invites successful mentors, known as "Dream Achievers," to share their struggles and experiences twice a year. Students listen attentively and note these lessons in their dream diaries.
• Dream Day: Held annually on December 16th, this program is a sharing session where students look back at the goals they set for the year, share their achievements, and plan for the next year.
• Most Valuable Dreamer (MVD): This activity selects students based on specific rules to motivate them to become successful dreamers in life.

Character Development and Promises in Japanese Management

To cultivate responsible and capable individuals, JIDSC students adhere to seven core promises. These promises, also adopted by NDMSC, focus on: greeting people cheerfully, being truthful, showing gratitude for what they have, making consistent efforts toward dreams, judging based on right and wrong (not pros and cons), sharing happiness and sadness, and achieving goals they truly believe in.

Modern Facilities and Academic Resources in Japanese School

The learning environment is supported by extensive, modern facilities. NDMSC, situated on 2.14 acres in Gazipur, features a five-story building, a large playground, and a modern hostel. JIDSC similarly provides a five-storied building, a large playground, and an indoor arena.

The schools prioritize advanced learning tools:

• technology integration: Classrooms at the Dream School are spacious and often feature furniture arranged in clusters to promote teamwork. Each classroom is equipped with projectors, computers, and multimedia tools to enhance complex topics. The air-conditioned classrooms ensure physical comfort, supporting mental alertness.
• ICT and Future Lab: NDMSC boasts a modern ICT lab with broadband internet and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing students to engage in research, explore concepts through simulations, and learn digital literacy, which is considered just as important as reading or writing. Crucially, NDMSC has the only Future Lab in Gazipur.
• Science Labs: NDMSC has developed a modern, fully-equipped science lab for hands-on learning in physics, chemistry, and biology, moving students beyond theory to practical experimentation and nurturing a culture of research and innovation.
• Library: NDMSC houses a comprehensive library with about 7,000 books covering all major subject areas (science, arts, literature, religion, sports, language) and accepts suggestions from students to buy books they wish to read.
• Staff and Support: JIDSC’s dedicated faculty is trained by both government and Japanese experts. Teachers also serve as counselors, providing personalized guidance and career counseling. NDMSC also ensures teachers receive annual training, with some sent abroad for specialized instruction.

Global Preparation and Co-Curricular Life in Japanese School

The schools actively prepare students for global engagement.

• Cultural Exchange: Students participate in exchange programs with Japanese students to share knowledge, culture, and feelings. NDMSC offers Japanese Language Class to open opportunities for students to study or work in Japan, capitalizing on the high global demand for Japanese speakers.
• Sports Festival: The Annual Sports Festival structures students and teachers into six spirited teams (Blizzard, Shadow, Flame, Ocean, Forest, Thunder). The event, featuring races like the 50 Meter Race, Hurdle Race, and unique games like 5 Men 6 Legs and Horse Battle, emphasizes team spirit, unity, and mutual respect rather than just individual competition.
• Education Festival: NDMSC holds an annual Education Festival that is entirely student-led, teaching real-world skills like budgeting, leadership, and communication. Students manage stalls, exhibitions, and performances, showcasing their academic and co-curricular achievements to the community.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4)

The educational model strongly emphasizes global standards, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning for all by 2030. World leaders adopted the SDGs in 2015, recognizing that education is the main key to achieving the other 16 goals, such as health and economic growth.

NDMSC has focused intently on aligning its operations with all SDG4 targets. The school has already passed its tenth year and demonstrated great success in completing all the goals of SDG4 by 2023, indicating that these educational developments are sustainable.

NDMSC's efforts directly address multiple SDG4 targets:

• Target 4.A (Facilities): The existence of a dream counseling system and a commitment to a safe learning environment aligns with the goal of providing safe, nonviolent, inclusive, and effective learning environments.
• Target 4.B (Scholarships): JIDSC offers various scholarship programs funded by Japan to ensure quality education is accessible regardless of socio-economic background. NDMSC also runs scholarship programs and facilitates foreign training or degrees for students and teachers.
• Target 4.C (Qualified Teachers): The commitment to annual training and sending teachers abroad ensures a substantial supply of qualified teachers.
• Target 4.2 (Early Childhood): NDMSC meets this target by running academic programs from pre-elementary to college, ensuring children receive care and pre-primary education in a gentle and cheerful environment.
• Gender Equality: Both schools operate a co-education system, maintaining a gender parity index (GPI) that has exceeded 1 at primary and secondary levels in Bangladesh for over a decade.

By focusing on these targets and providing education spanning pre-elementary to college levels, these Japanese-managed schools serve as powerful role models for educational sustainability and the pursuit of dreams in Bangladesh.

The Japanese educational model in Bangladesh, epitomized by the Narayankul Dream Model School & College (NDMSC) and Japan International Dream School & College (JIDSC), is profoundly defined by its commitment to "Dream Education," which aims to nurture individuals who can "always think and behave independently". This comprehensive vision is structured around the three pillars of Humanity, Scholastic Ability, and Globalization.

The school’s environment, which includes the Dream Board for daily motivation and Dream Counseling (or "Dream Therapy") implemented for all students from Class Six to Twelve, is managed under a system that exists "solely for the welfare of the students". Crucially, this unique approach has yielded significant global success, as NDMSC has already demonstrated great success in completing all the goals of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) by 2023, thus establishing itself as a sustainable model for converting every person "into a resource" in Bangladesh.

By fostering good-hearted thinkers and capable minds, these institutions work toward the founder’s ultimate dream that all despair will perish, and the planet will be "overflowed with the smiles of joy".