IR News｜News

 Benesse Corporation announced today that it will collaborate with Edu-Tech Japan Inc., an educational service provider and an operator of Juku schools (after-school cram schools) in Saitama prefecture, to jointly operate Benesse English Classes for Children (from pre-school up to age 12). Under the collaboration agreement, both companies will jointly open 35 new classes in Saitama, beginning in April 2004.

This collaboration marks a significant beginning to Benesse's strategy to grow its network of Benesse English Classes for Children nationwide. Since April 2000, when Benesse introduced its first English Classes for Children in the Tokyo area, it has steadily expanded its operations and accumulated know-how in classroom management and expertise in developing teaching materials and methods. Benesse English Classes are conducted in small groups by qualified teachers usually at their homes, using educational materials developed by Benesse. Currently 260 classroom locations are in operation in and around the Tokyo area. In order to accelerate the expansion of classroom locations throughout Japan, Benesse has opted to actively seek opportunities to collaborate with other educational service providers like operators of juke schools, in addition to opening new classrooms on its own.

Edu-Tech Japan is an ideal partner for these endeavors. It now manages 45 Juku schools for grades 1 to 12 under the SCHOOL 21 brand name in Saitama. SCHOOL 21 has developed an excellent reputation for focusing on developing the individual attributes of students and educating human minds rather than only teaching school subjects. It has also been successful in having students pass entrance examinations for prestigious schools with high academic standing.

For Edu-Tech, the collaboration with Benesse will help raise awareness of SCHOOL 21 among younger students, potential recruits. Through their joint efforts, Benesse will not only increase its classroom locations but also plans to gain wider recognition of co-brand effects between English Classes for Children and Berlitz, an international language education company owned by Benesse. English Classes for Children has a tagline, "supported by Berlitz," and Benesse intends to enhance the association.

Under the agreement, Edu-Tech will manage classroom operations, providing classrooms, recruiting students and employing teachers, while Benesse will provide teaching materials and curricula, and will be responsible for teacher training. New classes will be offered at Edu-Tech's Juku schools, as well as at teachers' homes in the vicinities of Edu-Tech schools.