Japanese Exchange Student Joins Ghanaian School Community Through Ghana-Japan Educational Programme

A Japanese exchange student, Mei Mikuriya, is currently in Ghana as part of an international educational exchange programme designed to promote cultural understanding and strengthen educational ties between Ghana and Japan.

Mikuriya is participating in the JAFRIG International Students Exchange Program (J|SEP), which facilitates educational and cultural exchanges between Japanese and Ghanaian students.

As part of the programme, Japanese students are placed in Ghanaian senior high schools, including E.P.C. Mawuko Girls’ Senior High School and Mawuli School in Ho, where they participate in aspects of everyday student life.

The exchange gives participants the opportunity to experience Ghanaian education and culture from within the school environment rather than solely through organised visits.

Experiencing everyday school life

During her stay, Mikuriya has been taking part in classroom activities, dining-hall experiences and local excursions.

These activities provide an opportunity for her to observe and participate in the routines of Ghanaian students while gaining first-hand exposure to the country's educational and social environment.

The programme also allows the participating students to share elements of Japanese culture with their Ghanaian counterparts, creating opportunities for learning in both directions.

Building Ghana-Japan cultural connections

Beyond academic activities, the exchange highlights the role of student programmes in promoting people-to-people relations and cross-cultural understanding.

Through direct interaction, students from both countries can learn about each other's traditions, daily lives, educational systems and cultural practices while developing friendships and broader international perspectives.

For Ghanaian students hosting their Japanese counterparts, the programme also provides an opportunity to engage with a different culture without having to travel outside the country.

The presence of Mikuriya and other exchange participants in Ghanaian schools therefore represents more than a temporary educational visit. It creates a platform for young people from Ghana and Japan to learn from one another and build lasting connections.

The initiative is expected to contribute to greater cultural understanding between the two countries while giving participating students experiences that extend beyond the conventional classroom.

<strong>Source: Thomas Adabogo / OMSU News.</strong>