Yaruki Switch Group Expands Support for Ashinaga Foundation's Learning Support Program; Launches Online University Entrance Exam Seminar for High School Students and Parents

Yaruki Switch Group Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Naoshi Takahashi), a comprehensive education service company, has further expanded its free provision of educational know-how to the 'Learning Support Program (LSP),' an online individual learning support program operated by the Ashinaga Foundation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), which supports bereaved children in Japan and abroad. In addition to its previous efforts, the company held an online seminar on university entrance exams for high school students receiving Ashinaga Foundation high school scholarships and their parents.

■ Background and Previous Initiatives

The foundation points out that a lack of role models and educational disparities in career formation for children from bereaved families are factors leading to early abandonment of higher education. In response to increased anxiety about learning support due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation launched the 'Learning Support Program' in the fall of 2020, a project to support the learning of bereaved elementary and junior high school students. In this program, university scholarship students act as supporters (tutors) and provide online individual instruction.

Yaruki Switch Group has been involved since the trial phase at the program's inception, providing support leveraging the know-how of its individual tutoring school 'School IE' and online individual tutoring. Currently, the group supports the program by focusing on the following three main areas.

■ Support Content for the Ashinaga Foundation's 'Learning Support Program'

1. Online University Entrance Exam Seminar for High School Students and Parents

Through past support activities and staff training, the importance of 'parental understanding and cooperation' in exam and learning support for high school students was reaffirmed. As a new initiative, the group held its first online seminar featuring instructors from 'School IE.' By directly delivering information on the latest admission systems and career path advice, the seminar encourages children to proactively envision their future. Participants gave high praise, with comments such as 'I understood the importance of gathering information at home' and 'The detailed information I couldn't get at school was very helpful.'

2. Training for Supervisor Staff (SV)

Regular training sessions are conducted by Yaruki Switch Group's education professionals for Ashinaga Foundation staff who serve as SVs, overseeing and managing the learning supporters. This time, training was held twice a year with the aim of improving practical operational and learning aspects, covering topics such as 'specific approaches for children with no study habits' and 'how to talk to children with issues specific to high school students.'

3. Free Provision of 'Yaruki Switch Premium Club' Video Lessons

Free accounts for the company's video lessons are provided to university student learning supporters as reference materials for their instruction. By allowing them to view professional lessons covering the key points of each subject, the group supports the improvement of supporters' teaching skills, bolstering the quality of volunteer-led individual tutoring with professional expertise.

■ Participation in the Program Completion Ceremony

On March 15, 2026, an online completion ceremony was held to mark the end of the 2025 program. Yaruki Switch Group attended as a cooperating company, conveying congratulations and gratitude to the children who engaged in learning over the past year, the supporters who accompanied them, and the operational staff.

■ Future Developments

Based on its philosophy of 'finding the gem within each individual and providing full support to make it shine,' Yaruki Switch Group will continue to deepen its collaboration with the Ashinaga Foundation. The group believes its mission is to leverage the teaching and operational know-how cultivated in educational settings to bridge the information gap in education that children face and help broaden their future options, and it will continue to expand its support network.