Educational System of Japan

A Closer Look on Japan and

America’s Educational System

By Ms. Echevria,

K.Ms. Aclao, G.

Trademarks

Educational System

References

REFERENCES

www.nier.go.jp/EduactionInJapan

www.members.tripod.com

www.sitemaker.umich.edu/arunStructural_differences

www.japan-guide.com/e/e2150.html

www.tokyo-icc.jp/guide_eng/educ/01.htm

http://www.aba.ne.jp/~sugita/71e.htm

http://www.nier.go.jp/EduactionInJapan

http://www.members.tripod.com/

http://www.sitemaker.umich.edu/arunStructural_differences

http://www.sitemaker.umich.edu/arunStructural_differences

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2150.html




http://www.tokyo-icc.jp/guide_eng/educ/01.htm

http://www.tokyo-icc.jp/guide_eng/educ/01.htm

Learning Objectives

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. To have an overview on Japan’s Educational System.

2. To have knowledge on what kind of Educational System Japan has as one of the top performing countries in education.

3. To grasp idea as to what differences exist between Japanese and Philippine Educational Systems

Topic Outline

Topic Outline 1. Japan

1a. Trademarks 2. Eduactional System

2a. Kindergarten2b. Elementary2c. Lower Secondary School

*Curriculum*Facilities*Admin/Staff*Classroom Management*School Calendar*Daily Schedule

2d. Upper Secondary School2e. University

Kindergarten

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF JAPAN

Kindergarten

- usually starts at 3- not compulsory, having only 60% enrollment rate- play, singing songs, observation, hearing and speaking, handicrafts- Emphasis on being independent and necessary life habits- Teachers considered as developed in understanding children’s world

6334


Table of Year and Grade System


-comprises 24 million students from Kindergarten-University.

Elementary


Elementary-compulsory for children aged 6-12-99.35% public and only .65% private--enrollment rate is 99%-considered as the first step of the child into society-provide children aged 6-12 w/ elementary general educationsuited to the appropriate stage of their mental and physicaldevelopment.-children are not held back if they do poorly and the other way around-parent-teacher communication

Curriculum


*Curriculum- designed and created by Monbusho or the Ministry of Education (MEXT)

*Subjects- include Japanese Language, Social Studies, Science, Art, Music, Home Economics, Physical

Education

*Facilities- buildings are plain but functional. -excellent educational facilities, including

libraries, music rooms, art rooms, gymnasia, and playgrounds, swimming pools,Science rooms are similarly well equipped.

Admin/staff

*Admin/StaffTeachers- 60% of teachers are women

- teaches a different grade level each year -doesn’t reprimand students much but guides

the class in correcting each others behavior -supervise the lives of students outside school

-requires license (Bachelor’s Degree 4 yrs, pass Prefectural Education and Licensure Exam)

- distributed among prefectures every few years


670,800.00-774,000.00 vs 222,588.00


Head Teachers- helps new or weaker techers improve teaching skills, instruction or classroom management

-assigned in sending weekly/monthly newsletters to parents

Principals-98% of Principals are men -responsible for all school activities -represents the school in PTA and outside groups -school symbol and expectation

Classroom management


*Classroom Mangement- 38-45 students-extensive training from the first day of the child’s school career in the routines and rituals that make up the school day-teachers teaches students that they are responsible for their behavior-students are taught to take pride in conducting themselves in an orderly and efficient manner

School calendar

*School calendar

-classes normally start in April and ends in March of the following year

-fieldtrips happen in May (Spring)-Annual Sports in September (Autumn)-Three long vacations

*Summer break (late July-late August)*Winter break (late December-early

January)*Spring break (late Feb-early April)

-Graduation in March-less significant


Daily schedule


*Daily Schedule

Lower Secondary Education


Lower Secondary Education-part of the compulsory stage in Japanese Education-students aged 12-15-purpose is to provide general education corresponding to students’ mental and physical development on the basis of their primary education-teachers assigned to one subject only(2/3 are men)-additional subjects like English Language, Moral Education and Religion (Private)-no breaks in between classes(classes 50 mins. Long)-Graduates of lower secondary schools are entitled to

advance to schools of upper secondary education colleges (with certificate)

Upper Secondary Education 1


Upper Secondary High School-not compulsory-students aged 15-18-purpose is to provide higher general education

and specialized education according to students’ mental and physical development on the foundation of the lower secondary education.

three categories: (1) Academic (41-45) (2) specialized (26-30), and (3) integrated (over 120)(1)Academic courses provide mainly general education

suited to the needs of both those who wish to advance to higher education and those who are going to get a job but have chosen no specific vocational area.

(2) Specialized courses are mainly intended to provide vocational or other specialized education for those students who have chosen a particular vocational or specialty area as their future career.

Upper 2ndary 2


Ex. agriculture, industry, commerce, fishery, home economics, nursing, science-mathematics, physical education, music, art, English language and other courses.

(3) Integrated courses were introduced in 1994. These courses offer a wide variety of subject areas and subjects from both the general and the specialized courses, in order to adequately satisfy students' diverse interests, abilities and aptitudes, future career plans, etc.

-encourages self-motivated learning and enables students to experience the joy of learning and a sense of achievement. Study under the integrated course is also seen as a way of helping students to develop their individuality and gain the willingness and ability to approach tasks and issues independently and actively and of fostering the motivation to learn.

4

University


Higher Education Junior College-ages 18-22

-must take NAT and the school exam itself (ronin)

-81% private universities-women who wants to pursue courses

stress homeeconomics, nursing, teaching,

humanities and social science

Graduate School-ages 22-24-only 7% gets Masters

Doctorate Level-ages 24-28-students take humanities and medical

programs-Medical, Veterinary, Dentistry and

Pharmaceutical

Topic Outline


Synthesis

Why is Japan successful in the field of education? It’s mainly because they have a standardized and demanding curriculum, teaching approaches that encourages student Engagement, they give importance on school-home communication, long schooling hours And additional schooling, teacher quality, carefully targetted financial resources, and focus on equity.

As future teachers, we need to educate ourselves in a way that we can be calledGlobal Teachers. With wide-range of knowledge that is not based only locally but internationally and worldwide. Have you come across an experienced teacher with variousPersonal experience on different cultures and knowledge? Such a model. And very influencing.

If we were able to come up with different features with Japan and Philippines’ Educational system, inspiration may come to our mind on how to be globally competitive ourselves and for our future students as well.

Arigato!!!