JICA and Yamaha Corporation partnership to enhance primary education in PH public schools

Music education is becoming important in efforts to develop learners’ skills in the Philippines, thanks to a new partnership between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Yamaha Corporation (Yamaha). Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on July 25, 2025, at JICA headquarters in Japan, the two organizations will collaborate to introduce instrumental music classes in public schools.

The partnership aims to foster non-cognitive skills and improve the quality of education in the Philippines through instrumental music education in primary schools. Officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) will be invited to Japan and ASEAN countries to learn effective music education methods. The initiative will make use of the strengths and expertise of both JICA and Yamaha to support more engaging and holistic learning experiences for young students.

Since 2015, Yamaha has been implementing its "School Project", which introduces music education and instrumental activity programs in elementary schools across 10 countries. The global project is carried out through partnerships among industry, government, and academia.

In 2024, the program gained ground in the Philippines following the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the DepEd Davao City Division and Yamaha Music Philippines Inc., Yamaha's local sales subsidiary. This was part of a broader city-level partnership between Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and Davao City, the Philippines’ third largest city.

As a result of this cooperation, trial music classes using recorders began in three elementary schools in Davao City in December 2024. These pilot sessions aim to explore how music can enhance student engagement and classroom learning, while also serving as a model for possible expansion to other schools in the future.

In its New Medium-Term Management Plan announced in May 2025, Yamaha identified the Philippines as a key growth market under its "Evolving to Create the Future" vision.

Building on its existing cooperation with DepEd, JICA has also been supporting training programs related to the Japanese-style education system. To further strengthen collaboration in music education, which is a distinctive feature of this approach that incorporates the use of musical instruments, JICA has decided to advance its partnership with Yamaha.

With the signing of this memorandum, JICA and Yamaha reaffirm their commitment to inclusive, quality education. Through continued collaboration, both organizations aim to address social challenges through co-creation, in pursuit of a more sustainable future.

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