A STUDY ON SOCIAL EDUCATION NETWORKING IN KUMAMOTO CITY’S CLASSES FOR FAMILY EDUCATION

Abstract

The social isolation of families raising children has become an issue in Japan in recent years, due to the trend toward nuclear families, the declining birthrate, the weakening of ties with the local community, the decrease in time available for work due to dual income, and the fact that many parents leave their home communities when they get married. On the other hand, Kumamoto City has been promoting a program called “Classes for Family Education”. The purpose of this study is to clarify the actual situation of classes for family education in Kumamoto City, and to identify the factors that contribute to the formation of a network of parents. Therefore, interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted with the administrators and participants of the Classes for Family Education, and an analysis was carried out. The results of the study revealed that through social education, mutual recognition of activities initiated by diverse participants, the sharing of minor operational challenges among participants, and the experience of collaborative and co-creative activities are critical factors in fostering network formation within the local community.