IISJ opened in Yokohama on Friday (Apr 3, 2009)

Indian-affiliated institution opens international school in Yokohama

YOKOHAMA  April 3, 2009 (AP) – (Kyodo)—An educational institution affiliated with the Indian government opened an international school in Yokohama on Friday.

Classes, conducted in English, promote Indian-style education, particularly math education on which India is known to focus, such as mental arithmetic calculation involving double-digit figures.

IISJ is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Indian government’s Central Board of Secondary Education. About 350 students — from kindergarten to senior high school students — attend the international school it operates in Tokyo’s Koto Ward.

IISJ plans to gradually increase the number of students at the newly opened Yokohama school to the size of the Tokyo school.

About 10 Indian-affiliated companies, mostly IT-related firms, are operating in Yokohama, where about 1,300 Indian people reside, more than three times higher than from 10 years ago.

The Yokohama school, operated by India International School in Japan, uses a closed municipal elementary school building leased by the city of Yokohama, which is encouraging more Indian companies to operate in the port city.

In the 2009 academic year beginning in April, 13 kindergarten and three elementary school students will study at the Yokohama school.

Classes, conducted in English, promote Indian-style education, particularly math education on which India is known to focus, such as mental arithmetic calculation involving double-digit figures.

IISJ is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Indian government’s Central Board of Secondary Education. About 350 students — from kindergarten to senior high school students — attend the international school it operates in Tokyo’s Koto Ward.

IISJ plans to gradually increase the number of students at the newly opened Yokohama school to the size of the Tokyo school.

About 10 Indian-affiliated companies, mostly IT-related firms, are operating in Yokohama, where about 1,300 Indian people reside, more than three times higher than from 10 years ago.