Apply for Japanese exchange program, youth urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) urged yesterday public school students to apply for the Japanese government’s youth exchange program for school year 2014-2015.

DepEd is now accepting nominations for an all-expense paid Japan East-Asia Network for Students and Youths (JENESYS 2.0) exchange program.

It is a program of the Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), that aims to spread an understanding of Japanese culture and values through exchange programs, the DepEd said.

This year, the program will be accepting a total of 184 students and 16 supervisors from the Philippines.

Interested student applicant must be between 15 and 18 years old, a bonafide Filipino citizen and is studying in a public high school.

“Students are also expected to display a deep interest in the Japanese culture and preferably with knowledge on the Japanese language,” the DepEd said.

To apply, students must submit two copies of the following: duly accomplished entry forms for the JENESYS 2.0 program with identical white-background passport sized photos (no scanned copies), a recommendation letter issued, signed, and sealed by the school head or school principal, a recommendation letter issued, signed, and sealed from a non-relative, and essays from a given set of essay questions to their respective Division Office.

Interested supervisor applicants must be a bonafide Filipino citizen, under the age of 50 with no criminal or unfavorable disciplinary cases against them.

To apply, supervisors must submit two copies of the following: duly accomplished entry forms for the JENESYS 2.0 program with identical white-background passport sized photos (no scanned copies), resume (not longer than three pages), certification from the office of the Schools Division Superintendent and the principal permitting the teacher to participate in JENESYS, valid police or NBI clearance (one original and one photo copy), and the necessary legal and administrative documents to their respective Division Office.