It has officially been announced that our school is the first school within Nara prefecture to become a certified IB school which will not only implement the MYP (Middle Years Program), but the (DP) Diploma Programme as well. We are grateful to our community, our teachers, and especially to our students who strive to better themselves for the global community every day. Let’s continue to be global citizens!
Middle Years Programme Certified School (12/2024)
As of December 2024, Nara Prefectural Kokusai Junior High School became the first public school within Nara Prefecture to be accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization (headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland) as an IB World School for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP).
The MYP is world-renowned as a four- to five-year secondary education program aimed at providing students between the ages of 11 to 16 a challenging curriculum that will help them to realize the connections between their studies and the real world.
In addition to this news, our institution is also undergoing the necessary preparations as a candidate school for the IB’s Diploma Program (DP), which will comprise of our second and third year high school students. This program will not only afford students the opportunity to improve upon their critical thinking, communication, and research skills, but also prepare them for domestic, as well as, foreign and international university opportunities in the future.
IB Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
The IB Learner Profile
The IB Learner Profile represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. These attributes, and others like them, are believed to help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.
As IB learners our students strive to be:
Inquirers We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
Knowledgeable We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
Thinkers We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
Principled We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
Open-minded We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
Risk-Takers We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
Balanced We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives – intellectual, physical, and emotional – to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
Reflective We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
Our Mission.
Opening in April of 2020, Nara Prefectural Kokusai High School strives to be the first public, junior and senior high school of its kind that aspires to develop students who are mentally and physically prepared for the changing world around them. Kokusai students are not only skilled in their native languages, but they are also working diligently on their English ability while honing their skills in additional foreign languages (Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and German) offered at the school.
Nara Kokusai and its staff are committed to instilling these 4 main principles into its students and curriculum:
Develop the traits and abilities of students to view things from a global perspective via active communication with a diverse array of people, as well as contribute to the peace and development of the international community.
Foster an autonomous attitude to help students form values for the global community, strengthen their inquisitive spirit, and desire independence.
Encourage students to develop respect for self and others, as well as a keen sense of affection.
Cultivate a dynamic ability to get students interested in playing an active role in the global community, while maintaining a healthy balance of mind and body.
Garr Reynolds (Kansai Gaidai University Professor)
“Teachers at Nara Kokusai are fantastic. The educational approach here will help you all reach your full potential. Not just as diligent and intelligent students, but also as kind, compassionate young people who care about the future of Nara, and Japan, and wish to make the world a better place.”
Our Vision.
We strive for our students to be…
Inquirers
Seeking knowledge in the pursuit to find solutions to a variety of problems.
Career Engineers
Actively working towards career and life goals.
Creatives
Adopting new ideas and innovative ways of thinking.
Collaborators
Building each other up through cooperation and collaboration.
Risk-Takers
Overcoming trials through perseverance and grit.
Humanitarians
Understanding the importance of being receptive to new cultures and ideas.
A Truly International Experience
Our school has hosted exchange students from Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sweden, Germany, Thailand, and the United States so far, and we are excited to host more in the future as the coronavirus pandemic continues to subside. We are equally as excited for our students to have the opportunity to exchange thoughts, ideas, cultures, as well as interact with fellow students from various countries around the world in the years to come.
Testimonials from our exchange students about their experiences at our school and in Japan.
The Curriculum
Adopting a Global Mindset
Information and Communications Technology (I.C.T.)
Every student has their own electronic device (Chromebooks® for junior high and iPads® for high school), as well as each classroom is equipped with a projector, screen, and Chromecast® or Apple TV® for screen mirroring.
Global Studies
Students do not only study about the SDGs and problems found within local and global communities, but they also brainstorm innovative ways to address and solve these issues.
English Program
Our school currently has five (native) English speaking teachers and two Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) who strive to provide students with an authentic English learning experience.
World Languages
At Nara Kokusai, in addition to English, first year students also study Chinese, French, Spanish, German and Korean. Our World Languages program is a first in Japan!
Nara Prefectural Kokusai Junior & Senior High School 