Please allow me to begin by introducing myself. I am Mariko Bando, Chairperson of the public-interest incorporated foundation Tokyo Education Promotion and Support Organization (TEPRO).

TEPRO was established by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education on July 1, 2019, as an organization promoting work style reform for educators and providing attentive support to schools.

In face of the increasing media coverage in recent years of the austere working conditions among teachers, such as extended working hours, concerns have also grown over the decrease in students seeking careers in education and other issues. Under these conditions, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) announced in January 2019 a guideline regarding the ceiling on working hours for public school teachers. In response, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) has implemented measures to cut down the long working hours of education personnel at Tokyo Metropolitan Schools, including the establishment of its policy on the ceiling on their working hours in May of the same year. In the future, TEPRO will offer multilateral support to public schools through programs such as the dispatch of local personnel, as well as experts and support educators in their work.

The primary and most important target in promoting these programs is "the children." We believe that providing support to teachers who are working assiduously each day, by mitigating their workloads as much as possible, will lead ultimately to the enrichment of learning for our children, including the allocation of more time for lesson preparation and for teacher-student interaction.

Naturally, assistance cannot be supplied by TEPRO alone. We urgently need the help of persons who are cooperating or wishing to cooperate in school assistance, the guardians of our children, persons who have ties with the schools, business enterprises and others who express hope for our schools.

TEPRO earnestly seeks to support our children for the future of Japan, with your understanding and cooperation.

Mariko Bando
Chairperson
Tokyo Education Promotion and Support Organization (TEPRO)

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