DSK International (DSKI) is both a German school abroad, supported by the German government, and an IB World School. It was founded in 1909 as a German School to serve German, Austrian, and German speaking Swiss expatriates, traders, and missionaries living in the Kobe area. This makes us one of the oldest foreign schools in Japan and the second oldest German school in the Far East. With our excellent student to teacher ratio (class sizes from 6 - 15 students), we provide an environment that nurtures the academic, emotional, social, physical and creative growth of children of all ages, cultural backgrounds and experiences. As an IB World School, we strive to ignite a passion for lifelong learning and a desire to make positive change in the world. We offer three languages (English, German and Japanese), an international curriculum (PYP), a German curriculum (Thüringer Lehrplan), small classes allowing for individual support, a quality music program, swimming lessons and an amazing community. In 2002, the School Board decided to add the European School to serve the English speaking community and teach an international curriculum. In 2016, we opened the doors of an additional building to house our growing student body. DSKI provides an exceptional education for children from 2 to 12 years old, which is rooted in its German heritage and European culture but also embraces the rich diversity in our world. We approach education holistically to ensure that students learn using their heads, their hearts and their hands. Our curriculum follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme and the educational plans (Bildungsplan, Lehrpläne) of the German state of Thuringia. DESK is home to a true, school community that values its history with its German roots and prepares children from various countries and cultures for a shared future.