New Delhi- The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL) under the Ministry of Education is sending 20 school students, accompanied by two supervisors, to Japan to participate in the Sakura Programme 2024. They will join students from five other countries during this educational exchange, taking place from 20th to 26th October 2024. The students were flagged off in a ceremony held at CIET-NCERT, with Shri Charanjit Taneja, Deputy Secretary of DoSEL; Dr. Amarendra Prasad Behera, Joint Director of CIET-NCERT; and Kirti Panwar, Deputy Commissioner of Navodaya Vidyalaya, presiding over the event. Also present were Mr. Kemmochi Yukio, Manager of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), along with other officials from DoSEL and the Ministry of Education. The selected participants include 10 boys and 10 girls from Navodaya Vidyalayas, many of whom are alumni of the PRERANA program.

The Sakura Science Programme, initiated by JST in 2014, aims to broaden students' intellectual horizons by fostering scientific inquiry. The programme invites young learners from various Asian countries to Japan for short-term visits, allowing them to explore Japan’s advancements in science and technology, as well as its rich cultural heritage. India became a part of this initiative in 2015, and since then, it has regularly sent students to Japan, with the first batch visiting in April 2016. By June 2024, a total of 553 Indian students and 85 supervisors had participated in the programme.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes the need for a holistic, integrated, and engaging learning experience in schools. It advocates for experiential learning across subjects, promoting the use of educational trips and excursions as a means of enriching students’ learning experiences. Japan, with its advanced technology, rich culture, and strong ties with India, serves as an ideal destination for such exposure, offering students a unique opportunity to explore innovative practices and global advancements.