Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”) and Kumon Institute of Education Co., Ltd (hereinafter, “KUMON”) have begun a pilot project to introduce digital learning content using tablets at an elementary school* in the inland area of South Sumatra, Indonesia. Along with the pilot project, Marubeni and Kumon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to investigate and study the feasibility of providing this service to educational institutions in Indonesia.

Indonesia has the largest population in Southeast Asia at 270 million, as well as the largest number of students in the region, with about 23 million elementary school students and 170,000 elementary schools. It is expected that the demand for international-standard learning programs will increase along with recent economic growth. In addition, the improvement of basic academic skills and the elimination of educational disparities between urban and rural areas have become major social issues.

In this pilot project, digital learning content will be introduced into the existing school education system as a new subject. Marubeni and KUMON aim to verify the effects of improving students’ basic academic skills and self-learning ability, as well as the teaching ability of teachers, and to establish a localized management system that meets the needs of Indonesian schools. Furthermore, Marubeni will also investigate the business feasibility of this service with the aim of offering it widely to academically advanced schools, schools in remote areas, and other schools in Indonesia.

Marubeni is focusing on the education business as part of its next-generation business development and is working on business development that contributes to solving educational issues faced by various countries and communities by utilizing the Marubeni Group’s global network and overseas project expertise. While assessing the results of the pilot project, Marubeni and Kumon will pursue the possibility of expansion and further development throughout Indonesia and aim to jointly commercialize the service in other countries, such as those in Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in the future.

*The educational institution in which the pilot project is being implemented is an elementary and junior high school operated through a foundation funded by PT. Tanjungenim Lestari Pulp & Paper (“TEL”), a subsidiary of Marubeni Corporation that manufactures and sells pulp and paper that began operations in 2011. The school is striving to coexist harmoniously with the local community by accepting not only children of TEL employees but also many children who live in the local community. As of January 2023, the school has a total of 851 students (kindergarten through junior high school). 

■ Pilot Project Details
School:	Lematang Lestari School
Term:	January 17, 2023 to June 2023
Subject:	Arithmetic/Mathematics (using Indonesian language)
Website:	https://www.smplematanglestari.sch.id/
■ KUMON Company Profile
Company name:	Kumon Institute of Education Co., Ltd.
Address:	Kumon Kyoiku Kaikan, 5-6-6 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka 532-8511 Japan
Incorporated:	August 1962
President:	Hidenori Ikegami
Main business:	･ Research, development, and production of learning materials for math and reading (Japanese, English, Portuguese, Chinese, etc.), penmanship and calligraphy, and SAIDO Learning® as a franchisor ･ Research on instructional techniques as a franchisor ･ Establishment and operation of Kumon Centers as a franchisor ･ Publication of children’s books, picture books, and study-aid books, etc. ･ Development and marketing of educational merchandise, including educational toys
Website:	https://www.kumongroup.com/eng/index.html