{"id":29876,"date":"2023-04-01T07:06:51","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T22:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unesco-school.mext.go.jp\/schools\/?page_id=29876"},"modified":"2024-04-19T14:55:36","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T05:55:36","slug":"about-unesco-aspnet","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.unesco-school.mext.go.jp\/schools\/en\/about-unesco-aspnet\/","title":{"rendered":"About UNESCO ASPnet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cSince wars begin in the minds of men,
it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The above statement is the preamble to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Constitution established on 16 November 1945. Rooted in reflections on the Second World War, which marked the rise of racism and anti-Semitism, the constitution sought to bring people together and strengthen the intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind through mutual understanding and dialogue between cultures. This led to the establishment of UNESCO on 4 November 1946.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Associated Schools Network (ASPnet)<\/strong> is an international network founded in 1953 to practically implement the ideals of UNESCO in schools. ASPnet aims to strengthen international cooperation and collaboration between member schools, promote knowledge sharing and partnerships amongst teachers and students, as well as build capacity for innovative teaching and participatory learning, particularly through whole-school approaches. At inception, ASPnet comprised 33 schools in 16 Member States. It has since grown to become one of the largest network of schools in the world, with more than 11,500 member schools in 182 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Historical Timeline of UNESCO ASPnet <\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, schools that have been granted ASPnet membership are referred to as \u201cUNESCO Schools”<\/strong>. As of April 2024, UNESCO ASPnet in Japan comprised 1,088 pre-schools and childcare facilities, elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, and teacher training colleges. These schools account for approximately 10% of the total number of ASPnet member schools worldwide and are involved in a wide variety of activities. Schools whose applications have been approved by the Japanese National Committee for UNESCO and are currently awaiting membership certification by the UNESCO headquarters, are referred to as \u201cUNESCO ASPnet Candidate Schools\u201d<\/strong> and are thus recognised as members of UNESCO ASPnet in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u203bFor more information about \u201cUNESCO ASPnet Candidate Schools\u201d, refer to the statement on ASPnet’s latest developments (Japanese only) <\/i> <\/a>issued by the Assistant-Director General of International Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mission<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ASPnet aims to \u201cconstruct the defences of peace in the minds\u201d of students by instituting UNESCO\u2019s values and objectives within the organization, lessons, projects, and policies of participating schools. It highlights the four pillars of education as advocated by UNESCO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Objectives and Thematic Focus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Source: UNESCO Associated Schools Network: Guide for National Coordinators<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. To promote the values and principles enshrined in the UNESCO Constitution and United Nations Charter, including fundamental rights, human dignity, gender equality, social progress, freedom, justice, democracy, respect for diversity, and international solidarity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. To promote schools as \u201claboratories of ideas\u201d that serve UNESCO\u2019s mandates for education, science, culture, and communication. In doing so, ASPNnet fosters institutional and human capacities, contributes to the development of policies and setting of standards, and strengthens international and regional cooperation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. To pioneer innovative and creative pedagogies that translate global concepts into practices at the school level, and to transform educational systems and policies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. To foster cooperation, knowledge sharing, and partnerships among like-minded schools around the world as a global network.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. To contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while providing opportunities for its members to develop a sense of belonging within the global community. ASPnet specifically focuses on Goal 4 (education), which draws on the following themes:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

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