"School Exists, But Learning Doesn't Reach" – Basic Education Activities Launched in Cherki Village

NPO Musubi-Te Foundation (Representative Director: Kotaro Fukuoka) launched new basic education activities in Cherki village, Gaya district, Bihar, India on May 25, 2026.

Approximately 200 children live in the village, and about 70 children participated in this first activity. Although there is a government school in the village, children who have attended for four years still lack sufficient basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.

Musubi-Te is confronting the reality that "even though children go to school, their opportunity to learn is not substantially guaranteed," and has started learning support in Cherki village.

■ Background: The large gap between "attending" school and actually "learning"

Cherki village has a government school, and children can attend. However, even those who attend school mostly lack basic academic skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Representative Fukuoka confirmed on-site that about five children in the village attend private school and can read, write, and calculate, while many other children struggle with basic learning content. Some children who have attended government school for four years cannot read, write, or calculate at all.

Given this situation, Musubi-Te began basic education activities in Cherki village, allowing children to relearn according to their individual comprehension levels.

■ Activity Details

On May 25, 2026, Musubi-Te conducted its first basic education activity in Cherki village, Gaya district, Bihar, India.

About 200 children live in Cherki village, and approximately 70 children participated in this activity. The activity is held in the corridor of the government school. With cooperation from villagers, a space for children to gather and learn was created.

In the first session, the significance of studying and the risks of not studying were explained to motivate the children.

The children, who were previously accustomed to not studying, gained a new perspective and their eyes lit up as they began to think about learning for their own dreams and goals.

Many adults in the village also think "it would be better to have the children study," but adults who have not received an education themselves are unaware that "the government school is not teaching anything" and believe that "the children are studying properly every day."

Through Musubi-Te's activities, the goal is not only literacy and numeracy but also character education through discipline and moral education to foster high ethical standards, and community building.

Musubi-Te will continue to work with local cooperation to create an environment where children can learn continuously.

First class scene

■ Future Outlook

Musubi-Te will continue its activities in Cherki village, providing learning support to improve children's basic academic skills, similar to its previous activity sites.

Stationery Preparation

To start the activities, the minimum necessary stationery for children to continue learning will be prepared.

Reconstruction of Basic Education (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic)

A design will be implemented where children can relearn from "where they are now" according to their achievement levels, building a foundation in reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Introduction of Life Skills Training

Using children's newspapers, picture books, kamishibai (paper theater), card games, etc., elements that foster thinking skills, communication skills, respect for others, and resistance to dishonesty will be incorporated.

(Example materials: Musubi-Te original materials / frameworks such as UNICEF materials will be referenced and adapted to local conditions.)

(▷ See press release on moral education Garima Class here)

Musubi-Te will continue its activities to deliver learning opportunities to children who are deprived of the chance to strive due to external circumstances, aiming for a society where each individual can expand their potential.

■ Representative Comment

This is the 24th activity site.

In many more villages and slums,

there are "children who cannot study as a matter of course because there is no school or the school does not function,"

"adults who are deceived as a matter of course because they grow up unable to read or calculate,"

and a "structure that creates perpetrators as a matter of course because they grow up without any ethical sense."

Musubi-Te will provide opportunities to such children and create a structure through education where they are not deceived and do not become perpetrators.

■ Organization Overview

Organization Name: NPO Musubi-Te Foundation

Mission: To provide opportunities to people who cannot make efforts due to external circumstances

Representative Director: Kotaro Fukuoka

Web: https://www.musubite.org/

■ Contact Information

NPO Musubi-Te Foundation

Public Relations / Media Contact: info@musubite.org