The Department of School Education Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, flagged off 20 students and 2 supervisors for the Sakura Science High School Programme 2025 in Japan. This initiative, organized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), invites students from India, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Ukraine for a short-term visit to experience Japan's science, technology, and culture from June 15-21, 2025. The Indian contingent comprises students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Government Schools in Andaman Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. The Sakura Science Programme, running since 2014 with India joining in 2016, aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on experiential learning and educational trips. As of June 2025, 619 students and 91 supervisors have participated in the program since India's inclusion.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for education.
Shri Sanjay Kumar: Secretary, Department of School Education Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education.
Sakura Science High School Programme 2025: A youth exchange program involving students from India visiting Japan to experience science and technology.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi office. Likely the source of the press release.
Department of School Education Literacy DoSEL: A department within the Ministry of Education.
Sakura Programme 2025: Short form of the Sakura Science High School Programme 2025, a youth exchange program between India and Japan.
Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi: Joint Secretary, DoSEL.
Prof. Prakash Chandra Agrawal: Joint Director, NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training).
Japan: A developed nation and the destination for the Sakura Science High School Programme.
Japan Science and Technology Agency JST: The Japanese agency that invited students and supervisors from India and other countries to the Sakura Programme.
India: One of the participating countries in the Sakura Programme.
Malaysia: One of the participating countries in the Sakura Programme.
Taiwan: One of the participating countries in the Sakura Programme.
Ukraine: One of the participating countries in the Sakura Programme.
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas: A system of schools in India from which some students are participating in the Sakura Programme.
Government Schools: Schools in Andaman Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura from which some students are participating in the Sakura Programme.
Andaman Nicobar Islands: A Union Territory of India.
Ladakh: A Union Territory of India.
Mizoram: A state in India.
Nagaland: A state in India.
Tripura: A state in India.
JapanAsia Youth Exchange Program in Science: The formal name of the program also known as 'Sakura Science Programme'.
Sakura Science Programme: A youth exchange program implemented by Japan Science and Technology Agency JST since 2014.
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A national policy on education in India, emphasizing experiential learning.
April 2016: The month and year when India first participated in the Sakura Science Programme.
November 2024: The month and year of the most recent visit of an Indian batch to Japan under the Sakura Programme, prior to the current event.
MVAK MOEDoSEL14 June 20252: Likely an internal document identifier.
Release ID: 2136427: The release identifier of the press release.
Ministry of Education
Shri Sanjay Kumar flags off 20 students from India
for Sakura Science High School Programme 2025
Posted On: 14 JUN 2025 9:25PM by PIB Delhi
Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education,
flagged off a group of 20 enthusiastic and excited school children, who have been invited to participate in
Sakura Programme 2025 from India. Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary, DoSEL; Prof. Prakash
Chandra Agrawal, Joint Director, NCERT, and other officials of the Ministry of Education were also present
at the event.Shri Sanjay Kumar, while speaking at the event, emphasised that the program presents a golden opportunity to
explore a developed nation like Japan. He further stressed that it is imperative for all students and their
accompanying teachers to fully appreciate the immense importance of this Sakura Science journey,
recognising its profound impact on shaping future innovators and strengthening bilateral ties.
In this group, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) has invited 20 school students and 2 supervisors
from India, alongside participants from three other countries (Malaysia, Taiwan, and Ukraine), for the period
between 15 to 21 June 2025. These 20 students (7 boys and 13 girls) are from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
and Government Schools in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
To broaden intellectual horizons and foster scientific exploration among young learners, the Japan Science
and Technology Agency (JST) has been implementing the 'Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science,'
also known as the 'Sakura Science Programme,' since 2014. India was included in the Sakura Program in
2016. Under this programme, students are invited for short-term visits to Japan, providing them with the
opportunity to experience Japan’s cutting-edge science and technology as well as its rich culture.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, while emphasizing the importance of Curriculum and Pedagogy
in Schools, endorses that "Learning should be Holistic, Integrated, Enjoyable and Engaging in itself.
Furthermore, the NEP-2020, states that in all stages, experiential learning will be adopted as standard
pedagogy within each subject, and with explorations of relationships among different subjects. In this context,
educational trips and excursions to places of historical, cultural, social, scientific and technological
importance are of paramount importance. Japan, as a developed and friendly nation known for its
technological advancements, is also a preferred destination for educational exposure. Therefore, visiting a
country like Japan is always enriching and provides an opportunity for the exploration of innovative practices.
India participated in the program for the first time in April 2016. So far, 619 students along with 91
supervisors have visited Japan under this programme. The most recent batch visited Japan in November 2024.
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MV/AK
MOE/DoSEL/14 June 2025/2
(Release ID: 2136427)