Japanese students raise strong voices in support of education
This year over 43,000 students around Japan participated in the “The World’s Biggest Lesson” campaign, organized by the Japan NGO Network for Education (JNNE). This organization provides lesson materials to help the students and other participants understand the situations of education around the world.
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6 minutes read
The Japan NGO Network for Education (JNNE) is a coalition of 21 Japanese NGOs working for international cooperation in education.
The Japan NGO Network for Education (JNNE) is a coalition of 21 Japanese NGOs working for international cooperation in education.

The largest campaign for SDG 4 in Japan

As a member of the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), during Global Action Week, JNNE has been organizing a nationwide campaign called “The World’s Biggest Lesson” since 2003.

Students take part in Global Campaign for Education. Credit: JNNE

Students take part in Global Campaign for Education.

Credit: JNNE

JNNE provide teachers or facilitators lesson materials to help the students and other participants understand the situations of education around the world. The teaching material focused on SDG 4, and lessons were full of relevant data, activity and even movies, helping students learn on topics such as ‘the situation of out-of-school children’, ‘financial gap for education aid’, and ’Malala’s story’.

From mid-April to the end of May, lessons were conducted in primary schools, middle schools, high schools, and universities, both private and public, and other communities around Japan. The goals of the campaign were to:  

  1. raise awareness of the situation of education around the world, and think about what we can do to change the world
  2. understand the situation of the Japanese education cooperation through ODA and contribution to GPE.

This year, 43,459 students from 502 schools around Japan participated in the campaign.

Japanese students raise strong voices to call for Education for All

Some students have said: “Through knowing the situation around the world I felt very privileged to be able to go to school and I would like to live every day with gratitude.” “I was shocked to know the vast amount of money spent for military. I feel like we are making a great mistake.”

The World’s Biggest Lesson for parliaments. Credit: JNNE

The World’s Biggest Lesson for parliaments

Credit: JNNE

After the lesson, students submitted policy recommendations to the Japanese government to improve the education cooperation.

Many parliamentarians join our campaign

Eight high school students from youth NGOs worked very hard to plan the lesson. Students created an original activity for the parliament members to experience what it’s like to study in a developing country, using broken pens and tiny pieces of papers.

Some parliament members made the following comment: “The distinct characteristic of the SDGs is that it does not only apply to developing countries but to developed countries including Japan and it is important to think about children who are out of school as our own matter” “I felt the urgent need to review the allocation of Japanese ODA”.

JNNE also organized an event for members of the parliaments during the campaign. “The World’s Biggest Lesson for parliaments” was taught by high school students and the members of the parliaments participated as students.

In total, 18 parliament members attended the event and more than 70 observers. The event was recorded and livestreamed on YouTube. After the event, one participant was really supportive and she suggested we should hold a meeting about budgeting of ODA. We did, and have been able to organize 3 informal meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance so far.

The World’s Biggest Lesson for parliamentsCredit: JNNE
High school student asks question to the parliamentarian
Credit: JNNE

Advocating for the work of GPE

JNNE has been working to raise awareness on GPE with the Japanese government and citizens. We emphasize that GPE is great partnership to support primary education and education in emergencies for low income countries and fragile states. In December, we will have formal consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. We will ask the Japanese Government’s plan to the GPE Financing Conference and will request to send high level representative.

We hope our advocacy is making an impact on the ODA policy for education in Japan, and that the Japanese government will prioritize its support to GPE and increases its contributions at the upcoming GPE Financing Conference in Dakar.

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In support of computers for students in my community

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