January 1 to 31.2008
Sony Science Education Program for Children/
Sony Preschool Education Program for Children
Educational Subsidy Award Ceremony in Fiscal Year of 2007
On Saturday, January 19th, the award ceremony for Sony Science Education Program for Children and the Preschool Education Program was held at the Sony headquarters building. With an additional number of 12 preschools compared to the previous year, a total of 32 schools and preschools came to the ceremony, including the Full Awardment project schools Yonezu Municipal Elementary School (Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture) and Midorimachi Municipal Junior High School (Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture), and Full Awardment project nurseries Umenoki Municipal Nursery (Kita-ward, Tokyo) and Izumigaoka Nursery of Tokiwakai Junior College (Osaka Prefecture). Parents and guardians, along with school and nursery representatives, attended the ceremony.
The welcoming speeches by Sony Foundation for Education Chairman Mr. Nobuyuki Idei and guest speaker Mr. Masami Zeniya (Vice Minister, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) were followed by speeches from Sony Science Education Program for Children Screening Committee Chairman Mr. Yasushi Mitarai (Chairman, University of the Air Foundation) and Sony Preschool Education Program Head Commissioner Mr. Hideaki Koizumi (Corporate Chief Scientist, Hitachi Ltd, Research & Development Group/Guest Professor, University of Tokyo). All schools and nurseries that attended were presented by Mr. Idei an award certificate, education subsidy, and Sony’s electronic products.
Following the award ceremony, representatives of the Full Awardment project schools and nurseries gave presentations of the projects for which they received the award. The ceremony ended with the closing speech from Mr. Ryoji Chubachi, President of Sony Corporation, along with a wonderful performance by the Sony Concert Band.
There were many comments of commendations upon the Program results that the Program concurred with the prioritized issue in the Japanese education system to enhance children’s motivation. The teacher’s efforts are the most essential aspect in achieving this goal, and the ceremony served as a revalidation of knowing that there are many brilliant teachers in this country.
The reception party held afterwards had a very sociable atmosphere, with congratulations from renowned individuals from various fields, including brain scientist Mr. Kenichiro Mogi.
