カテゴリー: News

March 23^rd, 2022

Ehle Institute
Principal Daisaku Hagihara

About Class Policy from April 2022

To the new and current students, faculty, and staff of Ehle Institute

The COVID quasi-emergency measures were lifted nationwide on March 22^nd. However, the infection rate remains high, and we must continue to take basic measures to prevent infection and manage classes while protecting the health of students, faculty, and staff. Classes will be held from April 2022 according to the following policy.

１．For the time being, classes will be “mixed classes” that combine online classes and face-to-face classes.

Classes that combine online and face-to-face classes to limit the number of students in the classroom are called “mixed classes.” Half of the classes are online classes, and half are face-to-face classes, held simultaneously. Each class will be divided into school attendance and online groups and will be attended alternately. Each department will inform you when you will be attending school or online.

２．Please follow the rules for attending mixed classes.

①On days of face-to-face classes, you will attend classes at school. Be sure to attend school on the designated days. On such days, online participation is not permitted and will be marked as an absence.

②On days of online classes, you will attend classes from your home. Students participate in online classes using Zoom. On such days, classroom attendance will not be permitted. However, if your home Wi-Fi should stop working, please contact the staff of your department and follow their instructions.

③ It is every student’s responsibility to come to school, so we will as a principle not allow online-only attendance. However, we will make an exception in the following cases:

• ・New students who are restricted from entering Japan and participate in online classes overseas or quarantine areas. However, in principle, online classes from your home country will not be accepted if an enrolled student chooses to return to their home country temporarily. As a general rule, stay in Japan during the semester.
• ・Students who are restricted from visiting the school by the public health center due to being infected with COVID-19 or being a close contact.
• ・Students who have been submitted a medical certificate from a doctor and a consent form from their parents, who have a prior illness which may become serious due to infection, and who voluntarily quarantine at home and restrict going out. Part-time work is not permitted if you are only taking online classes. We will check the status of your home quarantine regularly through video phone calls.

④ Please observe the following when taking classes online.

• ・Please make sure to arrange a working internet environment to be able to attend classes. Please prepare a computer or tablet and make sure to have access to a Wi-fi connection.
• ・Always make sure your face is showing during online classes. Also, if you do not answer even after the teacher has called your name twice, you will be marked as absent.

⑤ Please take measures to prevent infection when you come to school

• ・Make sure to always use a mask
• ・Measure your body temperature and disinfect your hands when entering school buildings.
• ・Please enjoy lunch in silence. It is not allowed to speak while not wearing a mask
• ・Desk guards are installed in all classrooms to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets. Please use them carefully.
• ・Do not attend class if you have a fever, cough, or any other cold-related symptoms. If you feel sick, please rest at home or visit a hospital. Do not attend online classes.

3. Coming to school outside of classes

It is possible to come to school for individual reasons such as certificate issuance and guidance. For usage of the self-study room outside class hours, please follow the instructions of each department.

4. Timing of implementation of full-scale face-to-face classes

We will shift to full-face face-to-face lessons when the time comes, after considering the situation of society as a whole. Further information will be announced again by the school.

February 7^th, 2022

School response to the rapid spread of the coronavirus

Ehle Institute

1. Class policy for this semester

We will continue the current online-only classes until the end of the school year. We will inform you about the next school year’s classes again at the end of February.

2. Suspension of attendance due to covid-19 infection, etc. = Handling of authorized absences

Currently, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has caused prolonged handling times for PCR laboratories, hospitals, and health centers to provide medical examinations. It takes a considerable amount of time from the appearance of symptoms of suspected covid-19 infection to the arrival of test results. Therefore, the school will suspend attendance for classes this semester as follows.

① Students infected with covid-19, or who display the same symptoms, will report their condition by self-diagnosis, and if judged that there is a possibility of infection, attendance will be suspended.

② The period for attendance suspension is 10 days counted from the day after the symptoms first appeared, a total of 11 days.

③ If a student still displays symptoms after the 10 days, attendance suspension will be continued until the symptoms disappear.

④ If a student displaying symptoms similar to the common cold was suspended for attendance recovers quickly and takes a negative PCR test, the suspension of attendance will be lifted when submitting negative test documentation.

⑤ If there is a possibility of close contact but there are no symptoms, students can participate in online classes. Attendance will not be suspended. Please pay close attention to your health according to the following criteria.

3. About current information of the coronavirus infection

① Osaka Prefecture’s website. A special site related to COVID-19 infection. Information regarding contact with the public health center, testing for infection, and visiting a medical institution is available.

https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp.e.agb.hp.transer.com/default.html (in English)

Self-quarantine SOS 0570-055221

② Regarding medical examinations and tests, the following judgments are shown on the same page.

• The public health center will continue to conduct examinations at high-risk facilities such as homes for the elderly.
• It is possible to seek advice at the public health center regarding examination at children facilities such as nursery schools

③ The definition for close contact is judged as following

• Is living together with an infected person or have spent several hours together with an infected person
• Have spent more than 15 minutes without using a mask within arms-length (approx. 1 meter) distance to an infected person

④ Search for medical institutions here

List of medical institutions and testing facilities (in Japanese)

https://pref-osaka.viewer.kintoneapp.com/public/0513c2014b31535d76ce0b6d4a6516e1399e3ae432a81f7b1c400569491589dc#/

List of medical institutions providing services online (in Japanese)

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000732317.pdf

4. School response to the strain on the PCR test system in Osaka Prefecture

Currently, PCR laboratories and medical institutions are very strained, and it is not possible to receive medical examinations and medical treatments smoothly. The school is currently preparing simple test kits, which will be available for use by students as soon as the preparations are completed.

5. Other precautions

① Please wear a mask, wash your hands thoroughly, and gargle to avoid further spread of the virus

② The Omicron strain is highly infectious. Avoid eating out with a large number of people.

③ We still do not know how the situation will be in March. We therefore strongly suggest you avoid returning to your country during the spring vacation.

January 13^th, 2022

To the students of Ehle Institute

Ehle Institute

Principal Daisaku Hagihara

Online-Only Classes Starting Monday, January 17^th

The coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Osaka prefecture. The Omicron variant is already spreading throughout the city. This time, many people are mildly ill or asymptomatic, and the infection is spreading without their knowledge. As a school, for the safety and health of the students, all classes will be held exclusively online starting Monday, January 17th as follows.

1. All classes will be online classes. Students should attend online classes at home instead of coming to school. The rules for attendance for online participation are the same as before.
2. Individual visits are possible for errands such as certificate issuance requests or individual counseling. Please be careful of infection when you come to school. Always wear a mask and measure your temperature when entering the school buildings.
3. We will observe the coronavirus situation in Osaka Prefecture, and consider the resumption of regular classes accordingly, by which time we will contact you again.
4. Please take thorough measures to prevent infection. If you become infected, please be sure to contact the school immediately.

August 23^rd, 2021

About COVID-19 vaccination for current students

To the students of Ehle Institute

Ehle Institute

We are pleased to inform you that we are ready to offer COVID-19 vaccination for current students.

• Time:
  First dose　　 Sunday, September 12^th
  Second dose　 Saturday, October 9^th
• Location: YOLO　BASE
  556-0003 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Naniwa-Ku, Ebisu-nishi 3-chome, 13-24

The office staff of each department will send out information with details such as reservation method, so make sure to have a look.

As for the faculty and staff, vaccination will be carried out as stated in previous announcements. This announcement is for current students.

End of notice

To the students of Ehle Institute

Ehle Institute

Principal Daisaku Hagihara

About school activities in September

Currently, the state of emergency in Osaka prefecture has been prolonged until September 12^th, due to the spreading of COVID-19. We would like to inform you that we have decided to resume classes in September as follows:

1. Classes in September will be held exclusively online. Please attend classes online from your own home.
2. You are welcome to come to school to talk to your mentor and to apply for certificates.
3. We will inform you again about the classes of the second semester that starts in October
4. Please refrain from going out unless necessary and going out for dinner to prevent infection. Also, when you go out, please be sure to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer regularly.

End of notice

June 20th, 2021

To the students and faculty staff of Ehle Institute

Ehle Institute

About COVID-19 vaccinations

COVID-19 vaccination is making progress in each region. Many people have already received vaccination information and their vaccination coupons. Since many international students are enrolled at our school, we have been discussing the implementation of occupational vaccination or group reservation vaccination with related organizations, but it is currently difficult to implement due to the lack of vaccines in the country and each region. Therefore, regarding the vaccination of current students and faculty members of our school, we will follow the policy below.

1. For the faculty staff, please proceed with vaccination at your own discretion according to the circumstances of the area where you live.

2. For current students, make sure to not lose the vaccination information sent to you, and then make reservations for yourself when possible. Please refer to the links below for information in several languages. We will allow one day of permitted absence from classes to get vaccinated.

3. In the near future, when the vaccination situation has become smooth in Osaka City, we will hold an information meeting with detailed information on how to get vaccinated. We will also continue to consider the possibility of group vaccination as well as post information to our homepage and social media.

4. Getting vaccinated is not mandatory, so please make your own judgment. If you are unsure of what to do, please contact the information centres found within the sites linked below.

<Reference information>

Sites that explain vaccination in several languages.

1. Regarding vaccination Osaka International House Foundation

Information on vaccination including vaccination coupons, vaccination time, vaccination place, pre-vaccination screening questionnaire, and what to bring for your vaccination.

Japanese：https://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/2021/05/27/koronawakuchin1/

English：https://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/english/2021/03/17/koronawakuchin1/

Chinese：https://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/chinese/2021/03/17/koronawakuchin1/

Vietnamese：https://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/vietnamese/2021/06/10/koronawakuchin1/

Korean：https://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/korean/2021/03/17/koronawakuchin1/

Information on how to make reservations for Osaka City Large-Scale Vaccination Center (INTEX OSAKA) is also available here.

2. Explanation of the process from receiving vaccination coupon to making a reservation (Available in Japanese, English, Chinese simplified, Chinese traditional, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai) JAPAN STUDY SUPPORT

This site also has information on the overall process of vaccination

https://www.jpss.jp/ja/

End of notice

Published on March 17^th, 2021

Rules for combined classes

1. Rules for class attendance

• Combined face-to-face and online classes to restrict the number of people who come to school are called “combined classes”. Half of the students attend class online, while half of the students attend the class in the classroom.
• On days of face-to-face classes, students come to school to study. Make sure to come to school on the allotted days. We do not accept online attendance on those days and will mark such attendance as an absence.
• Please study online in your own home for online classes. Students access classes by using Zoom. We do not accept face-to-face attendance on online days and will mark such attendance as an absence. However, if you have trouble with your home Wi-fi and are unable to attend classes online, please consult the staff of your department and follow their instructions.
• Students are required to attend face-to-face classes and thus we do not accept full-time online attendance. However, we make an exception for students on the following conditions.

① Students currently residing overseas or far away and are unable to come to school due to travel restrictions.

② Students who are infected with Covid-19 or have spent time with someone infected, and are instructed not to go to school by the public health center.

③ Students with chronic conditions which could worsen if infected, and who have a doctor’s note or a parental consent form, and therefore is in self-quarantine. Part-time work is not permitted for such students. We will check your condition regularly by the use of video calls.

2. Rules for online classes

① Please make sure to arrange a working internet environment to be able to attend classes.
Please prepare a computer or tablet.

Please make sure to have access to a Wi-fi connection.

② Always make sure your face is showing during online classes. Also, if you do not answer even after the teacher has called your name twice, you will be marked as absent.

3. Please take measures to prevent infection when you come to school

① Make sure to always use a mask

② Measure your body temperature and disinfect your hand when entering school buildings.

③ We will install desk guards in all classrooms to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets. Please use them carefully.

④ Do not attend class if you have a fever, cough, or any other cold-related symptoms. If you feel sick, please rest at home or visit a hospital. Do not attend online classes.

4. Timing of implementation of full-scale face-to-face classes

We will shift to full-face face-to-face lessons when the time comes, after considering the situation of society as a whole. Further information will be announced again by the school.

June 22^nd, 2021

To the students and faculty staff of Ehle Institute

Ehle Institute
Principal Daisaku Hagihara

NOTICE REGARDING THE START OF COMBINED CLASSES

The state of emergency in Osaka Prefecture has been lifted, and as a result of examining the current infection situation of covid-19, we would like to inform you that we will resume combined face-to-face and online classes starting at the following date.

Start of combined classes: Thursday, July 1^st, 2021

① Current students – please follow the school day schedule for when to come to school.
② The rules regarding combined classes and attendance were announced in April, however, we will repost them to our website so please make sure to read them again.

End of notice

June 18^th, 2021

To the students and faculty members of Ehle Institute

Principal Daisaku Hagihara

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE FORM OF CLASSES AFTER THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IS LIFTED

The state of emergency currently announced in Osaka Prefecture will be lifted on June 20^th, after which semi-emergency prevention measures will commence. After receiving further details regarding the prevention measures, we aim to resume “combined classes” (combined face-to-face and online classes) as soon as possible.

The resumption of “combined classes” will begin after a period of preparation to be able to inform all students and faculty staff sufficiently.

We therefore ask students and the faculty members to continue with online classes for the time being while preparing for the upcoming resumption of combined classes. We will contact you again as soon as the details for the start of combined classes has been decided, so please wait a little bit longer.

End of announcement