School for Japanese dropouts mulled

Japan’s loss could be the Northern Marianas’ gain as Japanese and CNMI education officials mull over the establishment of an exclusive institution that will cater to a large number of Japanese high school dropouts at CNMI’s lone college.

Through NMC’s Adult Basic Education and General Education Diploma program, Miyazawa Gakuen president Yasou Miyazawa is seriously weighing the possibility of sending its Junior and Senior high school loafers to obtain high school diplomas at NMC.

Japan’s stringent school system policies prevent close to 200,000 of Japanese dropouts annually to resume their secondary education, according to NMC Development and Alumni Relations Director Tony Deleon Guerrero.

“They don’t give a second chance to their students who have been expelled from high school for whatever reason. They are not allowed back to school. Since the Japanese government is without a system to give their kids a second chance at getting a high school diploma for these kids, they are asking for our assistance,” he added.

The Miyazawa High School, Marianas High School’s sister institution, has reportedly expressed interest to set up a center for these Japanese dropouts under NMC’s ABE/GED program.

Talks have already taken place between NMC and Miyazawa officials on this undertaking, according to Mr. Deleon Guerrero, citing his last visit to Japan in January and the recent visit of a Miyazawa official in May.

The completion of ABE/GED courses offered at NMC is equivalent to acquiring a high school diploma, a program which according to Mr. Deleon Guerrero, has impressed the Japanese.

“They are very impressed on this particular component of our school system. If these plans push through, these provide NMC a feeder system because these are kids still in high school, and they need to get their high school equivalency. When they complete that part then they can opt to continue their college education here at NMC as freshmen,” he said.

NMC’s open admission policy is also an element which has drawn foreign students to pursue studies on the islands.

Compared to other mainland colleges and universities, it only takes minimal requirements to enter NMC, according to Mr. Deleon Guerrero.

“A lot the Japanese students wanting to study for example in the US, it takes them a lot time, lot of money and effort spent, just to prepare for entrance exam,” he added.

The college only requires incoming international students to take the English and Math placement tests, assessments which do not affect their chances of gaining entry to the school.

“There is no pass or fail on this placement test, merely an instrument to guide us as to what level or proficiency in English or Math that particular student has and then we would tell them what levels of subjects to take,” he said.

When the institution is established, NMC anticipates Japanese students to stay no less than two years due to intensive English as Second Language lessons, a course designed to address language barrier among foreign students.

According to research, the top three countries of foreign students attending mainland colleges and universities are Japan, China, and South Korea.

These countries, according to Mr. Deleon Guerrero, present a potential markets for NMC in its efforts to widen its foreign student recruitment. (MM)