A total of 27 educational administrators, teachers, and graduate students participated in the recently concluded Japan Educational Tour 2023-June Term, held last June 9-18.

Aims of the tour were as follows:

• compare the system of Japan and the Philippines and determine areas which can be beneficial to the Philippine system;
• allow education practitioners and graduate students to observe classes in basic and higher education;
• provide opportunities to experience the unique culture of Japan and how the education system helps preserve this unique heritage;
• provide opportunities for research linkages with Japanese Teacher Education institutions.

To meet the goals of the tour, activities conducted included school visits, Japanese cultural experiences and sightseeing to several UNESCO world heritage sites. Seven (7) Japanese cities in three (3) prefectures were visited within the ten-day duration of the educational tour. The program provided opportunities for the educational practitioners to observe and gather information about the Japanese educational system and compare it with that of the Philippines. Participants observed classes in all levels of education in Hiroshima, from kindergarten, to elementary, junior high school, senior high school, and the university. Research presentations and educational exchange linkages were also made during the visit.

Through the program, the participants also experienced the unique heritage of Japan as they immersed themselves in interesting cultural experiences the country had to offer : Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement), Kimono-wearing, a Japanese home visit, and partaking of Japanese cuisine. Moreover, the participants were able to see the best spots for sightseeing at the Kansai Region (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara), Hiroshima, Iwakuni, and Matsuyama. In total, fifteen (15) major tourist spots were visited including four (4) UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Japanese cities were likewise explored as the delegates had stopovers at various dining and shopping areas, marveled at exquisite Japanese architecture and their transportation system, which were all a testament of Japanese ingenuity, their respect for culture, and their topnotch education system.

It was truly an unforgettable experience and a dream-come-true for all the participating educators!

CSAPI held its second annual National Conference on Curriculum Studies (NCCS) with the theme, Curriculum Studies for Education for Sustainable Development in a Post-Pandemic Era in the Philippines. The conference, with more than 250 participants both onsite and online, highlighted the role of curriculum studies in achieving education for sustainable development in the Philippines. The conference was designed to underscore the best practices in curriculum designing, implementation, and evaluation of curricular programs with integrated sustainable development. Based on these practices, curriculum practitioners and educators can be guided in crafting programs relevant, appropriate, and responsive to the new normal.

There were two Keynote Speakers, Dr. Ra-shane Meesri from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and Mr. Renato Opertti, Senior Program Specialist for Innovation and Leadership in Curriculum and Planning of UNESCO-IBE. Both touched on the theme for this year, “Curriculum Studies for Education for Sustainable Development in a Post-Pandemic Era”. Plenary Speakers representing Basic Education, Higher Education and Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) gave presentations on the same theme as applied to their respective educational level of expertise. Panel Discussion followed in the afternoon then capped by simultaneous Parallel Presentations on how the theme on Education for Sustainable Development applied to the following strands : Curriculum planning/designing, Curriculum implementation and evaluation, and Instructional designing.