十島村立口之島小中学校, Combined elementary and junior high school in Kuchinoshima, Japan.
Kuchinoshima Gakuen is a combined elementary and junior high school on a tiny island in the Tokara archipelago about 50 kilometers south of Kyushu. The school uses island life itself as a classroom, blending formal instruction with hands-on community experience.
The school was founded in 1930 and served as an education center for island generations. In 2023, it was restructured and renamed Kuchinoshima Gakuen as part of an integrated compulsory education system.
Students take part in local festivals and farm work that connect them closely with island residents. Through these daily activities, they learn directly from the community how life functions on a remote island.
Access to the school is only by boat from the mainland, requiring advance planning since ferry connections are limited. Visitors should know that island weather can be rough and warm, waterproof clothing is necessary.
The school has welcomed mainland students since 1991 who stay with local host families and take part in a mountain and ocean study program. This program lets students from Japan live and learn on this remote island while experiencing community life directly.
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