Japanese firm opens free school in Pampanga town
Japanese investors and Pampanga officials opened the Philippine Arayat Training School in Arayat town in Pampanga province to provide language, vocational training, and job assistance to high school students. (Photo by Mark Mamawan)
ARAYAT, Pampanga—A Japanese company opened a school on Friday to provide free education of Japanese language and vocational training among junior, senior and high school students in this town.
Iris Corporation chairperson Fumio Tamura and Congresswoman Omi Asako of Japan led the inauguration of the Philippine Arayat Training School (PATS). Its campus in Barangay Tabuan has three buildings overlooking the fabled Mt. Arayat.
In a program, Gov. Dennis Pineda thanked PATS for aiming to “develop excellent human resources that will meet the needs and requirements of Japanese industries.”
He said the partnership of PATS and the local government will be “instrumental” in helping Pampanga recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asako praised Tamura for his strong will to build the PATS in less than five years, calling the school a “bridge [of friendship] between the Philippines and Japan.”
John Bertiz, deputy director general of TESDA, also graced the event.
The school’s education method is based on E-Nihongo by Gakurinsha Corp which has an abundant experience in Japanese education and e-learning. The curriculum also includes courses on Japanese culture and business manners.
