Current form the the article lacks sources to back up its claims. Would also benefit from more information on life as a student in Japan. Did a cleanup and combined some sections for easier reading.
Post-WWII
editAfter the defeat in World War II, the allied occupation government set education reform as one of its primary goals, to eradicate militarist teachings and convert Japan into a pacifist democracy. Nine years of education was made mandatory, with six years in elementary education and three in junior high as an emulation of the American educational system. A number of reforms were carried out in the post-war period that aimed at easing the burden of entrance examinations, promoting internationalization and information technologies, diversifying education and supporting lifelong learning.[1][2]
In an effort to ease Japanese postwar sentiments, any nationalistic, militaristic, authoritarian, or Anti-American content was blackened from learning materials. This practice was known as suminuru, and was used as the primary method of educational reform until newly fashioned texts, Kuni no ayumi (Footsteps of the Nation), Nihon rekishi (Japanese History), and Minshushugi (Democracy) were written by the Ministry of Education and Civil Information and Education Section.[3] The Ministry of Education is now known as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and is responsible for educational administration.[4]
In successive international assessment tests, Japan's fourth- and eighth-grade students have consistently ranked in the top five globally in both mathematics and science (see TIMSS).
Despite concerns that academic skills for Japanese students may have declined since the mid-1990s, Japan's students showed a significant improvement in math and science scores in the 2011 TIMSS survey, compared to the 2007 scores.
Extracurricular activites
editThe Japanese educational system is supplemented by a heavy emphasis on extracurricular activities, also known as shadow education, which are any educational activities that don't take place during formal schooling.[5] This is largely motivated by the extreme weight that is placed upon formal examinations as a prerequisite to attend university, something that is seen as integral to their future career and social status. In order to gain a competitive edge, Japanese families are willing to expend money and have their child put in time and effort into a supplementary education.[6] Forms of shadow education include mogi shiken, which are practice exams given by private companies that determine the child's chances of getting into a university. Juku are private after school classes that aim to develop abilities for students to excel in formal school curriculum or to prepare for university examinations. Ronin are students that undergo full-time preparation for university exams following high school due to their inability to get into their school of choice.[7]
Over 86% of students with college plans participate in at least one form of shadow education, with 60% participating in two or more.[7]
Criticisms
editJapanese students are faced with immense pressure to succeed academically from their parents, teachers, peers and society. This is largely a result of a society that has long placed a great amount of importance on education, and a system that places all of its weight upon a single examination that has significant life-long consequences. This pressure has led to behaviors such as school violence, cheating, suicide, and significant psychological harm. In some cases, students have experienced nervous breakdowns that have required hospitalization as young as twelve. In 1991, it was reported that 1,333 people in the age group of 15-24 had committed suicide, much of which was due to academic pressure.A survey by the Education Ministry showed that students at public schools were involved in a record number of violent incidents in 2007: 52,756 cases, an increase of some 8,000 on the previous year. In almost 7,000 of these incidents, teachers were the target of assault.
The Japanese educational system has also been criticized for failure to foster independent thinkers with cultural and artistic sensibility. Japanese students that attend schools overseas often face difficulty adapting and competing in that environment due to lack of international viewpoints.
- ^ OECD (2011-05-17). Japan: A Story of Sustained Excellence. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). pp. 137–157. doi:10.1787/9789264096660-7-en.
- ^ Shimizutani, Satoshi (2011-11-01). "Education Reform in Japan: A Course for Lifelong Learning". Asia-Pacific Review. 18 (2): 105–114. doi:10.1080/13439006.2011.630853. ISSN 1343-9006.
- ^ "Binghamton University - History Department: Resources: Journal of History". www.binghamton.edu. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ^ "MEXT : Museum of MEXT". www.mext.go.jp. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ^ Yamamoto, Yoko; Brinton, Mary C. (2010-02-19). "Cultural Capital in East Asian Educational Systems". Sociology of Education. 83 (1): 67–83. doi:10.1177/0038040709356567.
- ^ ENTRICH, Steve R. (2015-07-01). "The Decision for Shadow Education in Japan: Students' Choice or Parents' Pressure?". Social Science Japan Journal. 18 (2): 193–216. doi:10.1093/ssjj/jyv012. ISSN 1369-1465.
- ^ a b Stevenson, David Lee; Baker, David P. (1992). "Shadow Education and Allocation in Formal Schooling: Transition to University in Japan". American Journal of Sociology. 97 (6): 1639–1657.