Education

When Japan opened itself to the world in the 18thcentury, one of the government's high concern areas was to match up with Western standards in education. The Japanese education system was reformed mainly according to the French and German model which was considered as most suitable and advantageous.

After the World war II, the Americans reformed the Japanese education system after their own which consists of intial six years of elementary school, next three years of junior and then senior high school and four years of university or two years of junior college.

Elementary school and junior high school are a part of compulsory education. More then 90% of students graduate from high school and above 40% from university or junior college. At universities the percentage of male students is higher than that of female students while the opposite is the case at junior colleges. The number of graduate university students is relatively low.

The Japanese school year starts in April and consists of three terms, separated by short holidays in spring and winter, and a one month long summer break.

An important characteristic of the Japanese school system are the entrance exams, and with them comes a high competitiveness among students. Most high schools, universities, as well as a few private junior high schools and elementary schools require applicants to qualify entrance exams. In order to pass entrance exams of the best institutions, many students attend special preparation schools ('juku') besides regular classes, or for one to two years between high school and university ('yobiko').

Japanese schools up to Junior High School are almost exclusively public (less than 5% are privately owned and run). Until Junior High School, students study at the school in whose catchment area their home is located. However, senior high schools have overlapping catchment areas: this means that there is competition among schools for the best pupils in a particular area, and among pupils for places at the best schools. Over one-quarter of senior high schools are private, indicating the extent of the competition in the higher levels Japanese schooling: parents will pay substantial amounts for their children's educations.

Kindergarten (Yochien): Although optional education, in 2000 the number of new entrants to kindergarten was over 63% of the number of new entrants to Primary or Junior School - indicating that well over half of all Japanese children start their education earlier than required by the state. The Japanese government aims to increase the availability of kindergartens, in part to allow mothers to work if they need or want to. The trend to earlier and earlier education is increasing with special subjects for kindergarten students including English. However, the fact that the number of children graduating from kindergarten and from junior school has declined by one-quarter over the past ten years indicates the scale of the demographic challenge facing Japan in the near future.

Elementary School (Shogakkou)For six years from age six to twelve, this is the first stage of compulsory education for Japanese children. Almost all Japanese children enter at this stage, although an increasing number have already experienced kindergarten. Uniforms are standard in Japan, so the small children with bright yellow baseball hats, bright yellow umbrellas, bright yellow raincoats, etc. walking in long lines around Japanese towns are all Elementary School children. Regularly seen as a large flock walking in pairs holding hands or smaller clusters trading pokemon cards.

Junior High School (Chugakkou):From twelve to fifteen years old, this is a hugely important phase in the upbringing of the Japanese child. Results at Junior High School can determine entry to a good Senior High School and hence to a good university and career. At this point children usually stay late at school, busy with various clubs and activities as well as studies at a Juku (see below).

Senior High School (Koukou; koutougakkou)The peak of pressure for the student in the Japanese school system from 15 to 18 years old, entry to senior high school is by an entrance exam. Preparation for the exam itself, of course, is usually through attending a good Juku (see below). To get a place at the best university means that a student really needs to go to the right senior high school, so the entrance exam can have a major impact on the future career of Japanese students. As the number of private schools increases (at present over one-quarter of senior high schools are private) and pressure to perform well increases, education ends up costing parents more and more. This pressure is slowly diffusing down the chain as entry to the best senior high schools is increasingly affected by the junior high school attended. Although not compulsory in Japan, over 90% of all children attend Senior High School.

Part-time Senior High schoolIn some cases, where students are already working full time, they may attend evening school instead of normal high school. These classes are run in the evening, and instead of the usual three years, it takes four years to complete a senior high school education. Classes usually run until after 9pm or later, so this makes for a busy lifestyle for the working student. Compared to the average senior high school student, students at part-time high school tend to be far more socially mature and attentive students - also perhaps as attending a night school is generally a voluntary action and commitment is needed to complete the program, whereas attending Senior High School is often a matter of parental pressure.

Juku (Coaching schools)The pressure of the education system in Japan is great, and so much of a child's future depends on going to the right school and university that from a very young age (in some cases from before ten years old) a child's school day does not end with the school bell. After the piano or violin lessons, the basketball or football, kendo or judo, archery or English, Maths or Art or any of the dozens of other clubs that are organised at school most children also attend cram schools called "Juku". These have extra lessons, which may be used to push bright students further or to help others catch up to the crowd. The classes may run until late, and a 12-hour day is not unusual for the Japanese high school student (before homework).

While this system has produced one of the most impressive levels of literacy and highest standards education in the world, there are those who now question the impact of such pressure on students from such a young age. There are stories of increasing numbers of young adults and children with stress-related disorders, and tales of children withdrawing from society and school are common in the press and as subject-matter for dramas. The newly reformed Monbukagakusho (formerly the Monbusho), responsible for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, has placed increased emphasis on the development of the individual in terms of both mental and social development, with an added focus on the education of a rounded individual capable of integrating into society.

Juku are a common feature of Japanese education, and if you are a parent living in Japan can be a useful supplement to ensure that your child catches up to the rest of their class in Japanese language abilities.

Other SchoolsThere are plenty of other options available, including Senmon Gakkou (special technical or vocational training schools), Junior Colleges, and so on. Senmon Gakkou offer students the chance to combine Senior High School studies with a vocational subject - common ones include motor mechanics, hairdressing, architecture and the like. These are generally four-year courses, and start after Junior High School. Some Senmon Gakkou are highly competitive. Junior colleges offer two year university-style degrees, but leading to the title of "Associate" as opposed to a bachelor's degree. Nearly 90% of students at Junior colleges are female, while only about 40% of university students are female, one of several imbalances in the Japanese education system.

Japanese TeachersJapanese teachers have either an Advanced, first- or second-class teaching certificate. Teachers are encouraged to work towards higher level qualifications by engaging in ongoing training. On completion of training, teachers in elementary and junior schools with a bachelor's degree are awarded a first-class teaching certificate, and those with a junior college certificate are awarded the second-class certificate. At senior high schools, teachers with a Master's degree are awarded a first-class teaching certificate, and those with a Bachelor's degree the second-class certificate.

After obtaining the teaching certificate, the final hurdle for a teacher at a public school is to pass an examination set by the prefecture to be appointed a teacher. Once this examination has been passed the teacher may work in any school in that prefecture. However, the license is only valid for one year and if they fail to find employment in that one year, they have to take the exam again. If applying for a position at a private school, the school will set their own requirements for employment.

Teaching MethodsTeaching in Japan is sometimes considered rigid and unchanging. Although the curriculum is set by the State to the point where content and time to spend on each subject are clearly laid down, the actual teaching method itself is completely up to individual teachers. However, it is often considered that cultural factors and particularly the teacher training schools encourage standard methods of teaching, reducing the ability of teachers to develop individual methods. This is another area on which the present overhaul of the education system is focusing.

Foreign Children in Japanese Schools: Once a rarity, foreign students in Japanese schools are becoming more and more common - particularly in urban centres. If you are moving to Japan and would like your children to attend a local school, all children are eligible to enter public education for free (i.e. up to the end of Junior High School at age 15). The only expenses you have to pay for your child are the same as Japanese parents - uniforms, texts, clubs, and the like.

For details, contact your local city hall. Some schools have more experience of teaching foreign students and their educational needs, so it is worth finding out in advance which are the most suitable schools because the school your child will enter is determined by where you live, not the quality of the school. The city council will be able to give you information, or you or a friend can call around the schools and find which one is recommended.

Of course you can also choose a private school: in larger cities there is often an international school which will offer lessons in English and Japanese. This is of course a more expensive option, but if you do not want your children to have to study everything in Japanese, this may be a better option (particularly for older children). Most children will learn Japanese far more quickly than their parents, so you should not worry that they will be disadvantaged in a Japanese-language environment.

The most prestigious universities are the National University of Tokyo and University of Kyoto, followed by Osaka University and other private universities.