Modi wants Japanese language to be taught online

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday urged Japan to take the initiative to introduce teaching of Japanese language online and said Indian languages could also be introduced in Japan.

"India had introduced Japanese as a language option in schools, but there was a shortage of teachers. I urge Japan to take the initiative to introduce teaching of Japanese language online.

"Indian languages could also be introduced in Japan, and such an exchange would positively impact this century," Modi said after interacting with Japanese Deputy Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Maekawa Kihai, and teachers of the Taimei Elementary School.

Noting that there was a need for Asian countries to be more prepared in the area of education, he said: "The whole world accepts the 21st century as Asia's century, and to prepare ourselves well, Asian countries must learn each other's languages and values, so that this century is more useful for humanity."

On the third day of his five-day trip to Japan, Modi Monday morning visited the Taimei Elementary School in Tokyo.

A presentation on Japan's elementary and secondary education system was made to Modi.

Speaking after the presentation, Modi said that he had come to the 136-year-old school as a student "to learn how moral education, modernity and discipline has been blended in the Japanese school system, and could be imbibed in India".

An official statement added that from his visit to the school, he also understood the methods of evaluation and examination and how parents are kept involved with the child's education, and how the school syllabus is prepared.

Modi arrived in Kyoto Saturday and was received by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The prime minister observed that in 1923, the Taimei Elementary School had been destroyed in an earthquake, but it had since been well rebuilt.

He then added that he was reminded of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, and how 400 children had perished in a school in Anjar village.

Modi is scheduled to hold summit-level talks with Prime Minister Abe later Monday.