Jenaplan, a Dutch educational model that fosters individuality more to Japan! Launch of the free paper "Jena's WA!

2024.12.19 11:00

株式会社ほんの木

Honoki Corporation (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Toshinao Takahashi) will launch a free paper "Jena's WA!" in April 2025, summarizing the Jena Plan, an educational model with over 50 years of experience in the Netherlands.

フリーペーパー・イエナのWA！

The free paper, Jena's WA!

Background of the launch

＜Issues facing schools in Japan today

In today's Japanese schools, evaluation is based largely on the results of written tests, and children who are not good at math and Japanese are sometimes evaluated as "not good enough," even if they are good at physical education or music. Children who feel that they are not good at studying have difficulty keeping up with standardized, one-size-fits-all classes, which make it difficult to match each student's level of understanding and proficiency, and they lose confidence in themselves.

＜The IENAPLAN Characteristics

JENAPLAN is a vision of education and parenting that aims to nurture each child in his or her own way, drawing out the maximum potential in each child.

By having children work in different age groups, JENAPLAN encourages them to learn that they are different from each other, to learn and help each other, and to learn the importance of living together.

In addition, the daily routine is based on a cycle of four basic activities: dialogue, play, work (learning), and events. This is because talking with others, engaging in work, having time for play, and celebrating and sharing sorrows with others are essential in the daily lives of us adults.

During the time of dialogue, which is held at least three times each day in a circle with the entire group, each person expresses, respects, and shares opinions and thoughts, making school a comfortable and safe place to spend time.

In our work (learning), we emphasize the process of questioning and exploring why things are the way they are, rather than finding answers, and we place importance on using real things around us as objects of learning whenever possible, rather than just using concepts written in textbooks or on paper.

<Status of JENAPLAN in Japan

In April 2019, the first private school in Japan to adopt JENAPLAN, "Ohinata Elementary School," opened in Nagano Prefecture, utilizing an abandoned school, followed by "Ohinata Junior High School" in April 2022, and the first public elementary school, "Tsuneishi Tomo Gakuen" in Hiroshima Prefecture, in April 2022. The number of schools that have adopted the IENAPLAN concept is expanding in Gifu City, Nagoya City, and other cities in Japan.

■ Launch of JENAPLAN's free paper "Jena no WA!

In the past few years, the number of schools that have adopted or are considering adopting JENAPLAN into school education in Japan has been rapidly increasing.

Elementary schools in Kusu-cho, Oita Prefecture, kindergartens in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, elementary schools in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, elementary schools in Sakuho Town, Nagano Prefecture, and elementary schools in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture invited Jenaplan experts from the Netherlands to hold lectures and workshops in November 2024.

We launched the free paper "Jena's WA!" in the hope that it will introduce these new Jena Plan movements in Japan, and help schools to connect horizontally with each other and consider how to introduce Jena Plan in the future.

The free paper will be distributed at JENAPLAN Education Association and JENAPLAN-related organizations nationwide.

For those who want to know more about Jena Plan

We will hold an online course "Basics" for those who want to take the first step toward Jenaplan, such as those who want to learn Jenaplan well, and "Applications" for practitioners. The lecturer is Ms. Naoko Richters, an educational and social researcher living in the Netherlands. She has been bringing the Jenaplan to Japan for many years. Participants include not only teachers in the field of education, but also nursery school teachers, educational administrators, and parents.

＜Jena's WA!

https://www.honnoki.jp/blog_jena/

Guidance" for JENAPLAN Online Course

I've heard of Jena Plan, but what kind of education is it? I am interested in the online course, but what is it about? The staff of JENAPLAN and the Japan Society for Jenaplan Education will be available to answer these questions and more. Please feel free to join us.

Date & Time: Friday, January 24, 2025 (20:00-21:00)

　　　　　　Friday, March 7, 2025, 20:00-21:00

Guidance: Free of charge

<For more information, please visit

https://www.honnoki.jp/blog_jena/archives/1222

Outline of the free paper

Name : Jena no WA!

Publisher : Honoki Co.

First issue: April 2025

　　　　　 Scheduled to be distributed once a year thereafter

Price: Free of charge

Number of pages: 4 pages (may vary depending on the month of distribution)