We, the undersigned, wish to express our deep concerns at the recent decision by The University of Edinburgh to not reinstate the contract of Yoko Takahashi of the Japanese Department, School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures. The decision which has been made due to "financial instability" has disregarded the fact that Yoko is recognised as the most inspirational and innovative educator within the department. This decision has also affected Yoko's status within the UK and her recent visa application has been declined resulting in Yoko returning to Japan. Yoko Takahashi is one of the unique and rare brand of teachers who understands and cares about her students' concerns and difficulties, who adapts to help these students and who is always encouraging. Yoko is in short a born-teacher and one whom an insitution of the status of The University of Edinburgh should go to great lengths to keep. Letting Yoko go will be detrimental not only to the Japanese department but to the university as a whole. As fee paying students, we deserve to receive the highest quality of education that the university can provide us with and in the case of Japanese language, the highest quality of education that the university can provide is Yoko Takahashi. We implore the administration of the university to reconsider this decision, there can be no financial value applied to inspirational teaching. Therefore the decision has to be based on teaching quality and results, in this category Yoko Takahashi leads the department.

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