It is no secret that Japan has a fairly unique education system. If you asked any average Japanese person about the most important aspect of their education system, they would probably mention the “Gakken” system, the standard Japanese public school system.
Japan has the highest literacy rate in the world, but it’s also the most expensive. In a country where education is highly prioritized, what’s the cause behind this discrepancy?
Japan’s education system has changed significantly since the end of World War II. In 1945, the Japanese government implemented a series of reforms to boost the quality of education by lowering student-teacher ratios and increasing the number of classes per day.
These reforms helped to improve literacy rates from 83% to 91% and helped to make Japan the top-ranked country in the world for reading proficiency. However, the high cost of education is still a major obstacle for students and their families.
This blog post explores how the Japanese education system has changed and affected the country’s literacy rates.
As a Japanese kid growing up in the late 1960s, I remember when I was in primary school, the first thing we did every morning was go out into the garden and practice making a snowman. I still remember the smell of fresh snow; how I liked to sit on the ground and use my hands to shape the snow, then I would give it a final finishing touch of eyes, nose, and mouth using my hands. It made me happy.
I also remember my second year of junior high school (age 13) when I got sick with strep throat and spent nearly two weeks on antibiotics.
Japan’s education system has changed.
In 1945, the Japanese government implemented a series of reforms to boost the quality of education by lowering student-teacher ratios and increasing the number of classes per day.
In 1965, the government decided to standardize education across Japan. Students were made compulsory to complete eight years of school, four years of junior high school, and four years of senior high school.
As a result, the average age of students increased from around 14 in 1965 to 18 in 2010.
These changes were accompanied by a sharp increase in student debt, from ¥10,000 in 1960 to ¥1.2 million in 2009.
Although the government has been implementing various reforms since then, the country has yet to develop a feasible solution to the problems caused by increased student debt.
Japan’s new educational system
These changes were supposed to lead to greater student opportunities but had the opposite effect. The new reforms led to higher dropout rates, longer working hours, and more stress.
Only after these reforms were implemented did Japan see a dramatic rise in literacy rates. Today, literacy rates in Japan are second only to Finland.
The new educational system has created a nation of passionate students who have a lot of work to do to succeed.
In an attempt to keep up with the demands of the new system, Japan has implemented many different strategies. These include increased competition and stress-inducing exams, increased emphasis on self-motivation, and an emphasis on academic learning.
What does it mean for you?
Nowadays, many companies offer scholarships or scholarships to international students, making Japan the perfect country for students from developing nations.
If you’re thinking, “I’m not studying abroad, why should I care?” here’s why: you can study in Japan for free. The catch is that you must work for at least five years to qualify.
This means you need to work for at least five years after graduating before you can claim a scholarship. But this is only half of the story.
It would be best if you also had a good English level. While most companies won’t consider hiring you if your English is poor, this isn’t a problem because of the Japanese language.
The Japanese language is very similar to English. So if you speak good English, you can be hired.
You can still find a job even if you can’t speak English. For example, you could try working in a business that requires minimal English.
Alternatively, you could work in a shop, restaurant, or bar. If you know how to speak Japanese, you can get a job as a language assistant.
You could also look into career counseling if you’re unsure about what you want to do. If you’re unsure what you want to do after graduation, you could look into the careers offered at your university.
You might even be able to find a job that doesn’t require a degree at all. For example, a career in the fashion industry is a popular choice.
In brief, a career in Japan is a lucrative option for anyone who wants to work in a fast-growing industry.
How does it differ from other countries?
This means that education is more important than ever before. This has had a huge effect on the Japanese economy.
With a large population and relatively few natural resources, the country needed to import many goods. However, with high levels of education and high literacy rates, the Japanese became more efficient at using their resources.
They now have the world’s second-highest GDP per capita, leading to an export-driven economy that has made Japan the world’s largest exporter.
Japan is the only developed nation not to have experienced a recession in the past 30 years. It is the only developed country with an economic growth rate higher than 2 percent for four consecutive years.
The country has also seen a rise in inequality. This is because Japan is one of the few developed nations with many part-time workers.
Frequently asked questions about education.
Q: Do you think the Japanese Education system has changed from when you were younger?
A: In elementary school, there was very little focus on sports, and it was not encouraged. So, I played a lot of basketball in the summer and did what I wanted during recess and lunch. Nowadays, there are so many more activities in schools. There are music, dance, and math classes, with an emphasis on English. However, learning to appreciate and value different cultures is the most important thing. For example, you can always go to the museum and see things from other countries.
Q: How important is education for a child’s future?
A: Education is very important to a child’s future. The reason why they learn different languages, for example, is because it makes them smarter.
Top Myths about education
- Japanese kids don’t get enough sleep.
- Japanese kids aren’t working hard enough.
- Japanese kids are getting a bad education.
- Japanese kids are not socializing enough.
Conclusion
This is a long blog post, but I will try to break it down into a few sections.
First, let’s talk about the basics of the Japanese education system.
Japan has had a strong educational system since its founding. The Japanese government was the first in the world to implement a national university system.
Today, the education system is undergoing a massive overhaul. Many people have noticed the huge changes that have taken place in Japan over the last decade.
The Japanese economy is booming, and many companies are recruiting young employees to help them grow.
As a result, the Japanese government has begun to change its approach to education.
I want to go into more depth on some of these changes, but let’s start with the basics.
