Japanese Education SystemIBARAKI JET PROGRAMME ORIENTATION

Compulsory Education Called “Gimu Kyoiku” (ぎむきょういく、義務教育 ) 1st grade of elementary school – 3rd grade of junior

high school　 (9 years total)

Ran by local municipalities’ BOEs Kyoiku Iinkai (きょういくいいんかい、教育委員会 )

Overseen by the Compulsory Education Department at the Prefectural Board of Education

Education including: Japanese, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science,

English, Arts (including music), Heath and PE, Home Economics, Information, and Character Education

No cost for Public Schools

Elementary Schoolsshougakkou, しょうがっこう、小学校

Grades 1 – 6 Students enter the year they turn 7

(April-March school year)

Split into Private and Public Private : 206

Public: 22,197

No school uniforms at public

Class times can range between

30 and 45 minutes

English education is focused on communication, not grammar

Junior High Schools※Lower Secondary Schools chuugakkou, ちゅうがっこう、中学校

Grades 1 – 3

Most school have uniforms

English education becomesmore focused on grammar All education becomes

more focused on high school entrance exams (Juken, じゅけん、受験 )

Students can join afterschool club activities (splitinto “culture” and “sport”)

Most classes are 50 mins.

Senior High Schools※Upper Secondary Schools koutougakkou, こうとうがっこう、高等学校

Grades 1 – 3

Not compulsory

Public schools are run by the Prefectural BOE (Koukou Kyouiku ka, こうこうきょういくか、高校教育課 )

Most schools have uniforms

Classes are divided into “Science” and “Culture” Each focuses on different areas of study

Students quit club activities during 3rd year in order to focus on university entrance exams(Also called Juken, 受験 )

Secondary Schoolschuutoukyouikugakkou, ちゅうとうきょういくがっこう、中等教育学校 Grades 1 – 6

Integrates junior and senior high school Eliminates the stress of SHS

entrance exams

Students can participate in same club for 5 years

Currently 4 secondary schools in Ibaraki Namiki Secondary School

Koga Secondary School (Sowa SHS)

2 Private

Special Needs Educationtokubetsushiengakkou,とくべつしえんがっこう、特別支援学校

Covers all grades from Kindergarten to SHS

Broken into 3 main categories: schools for the blind, schools for the deaf, and schools for the handicap “handicap” includes those with

physical impairments, mental impairments, and illness

Not all special needs students are mentally impaired Require different approaches to

teaching

Be mindful of your own health!! Students with immune

deficiencies

Cramming VS Yutori Education

“Cramming” Education (Tsumekomi Kyouiku) Widely used until 1995

6 day weeks

Studying and memorization > character building and free thinking

Yutori Education (Yutori Kyouiku) Focused on allowing more freedom in the classroom

5 day weeks (in public schools)

More emphasis on arts and clubs

Falls in test scores (particularly mathematics and sciences)More pressure on parents/ teachers (Juku, etc.)

2002-2004: moving back towards “Cramming” Education Japanese Government still trying to find balance between both.