The Japanese educational system was reformed after World War II, changing to a 6-3-3-4 structure of six years of elementary school, three years of junior high, three years of senior high, and four years of university. This new system was implemented by the School Education Law of 1947. Education is compulsory through junior high school, and most schools operate on a three-term academic calendar similar to France. The Ministry of Education closely supervises curriculum and textbooks to maintain uniform education standards nationwide.

1. THE EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM IN JAPAN
GENEVIEVE EDRALIN-LUSTERIO
REPORTER

2. The Japanese educational system was
reformed after World War II. The old system
6-5-3-3 was changed to 6-3-3-4
(6 years of elementary school, 3 years of
Junior high school, 3 years of Senior high
school and 4 years of university).
This system was implemented by the School
Education Law enacted in March 1947.

3.  Ministry of Education – closely supervises
curriculum, textbooks, classes and
maintains a uniform level of education
throughout the country.
* Education is compulsory in elementary
and in lower secondary levels (Junior high
school).
* Most schools operate on three-term
system ( summer-winter-spring).

4. * Schools open in April and ends in March
the next year which was modelled after the
French school system.
* Japanese students spend 240 days a year in
school, 60 days more than their American
counterparts(Johnson & Johnson,1996).
* Average school day on weekdays is 6
hours. After school hours, children have
drills and other homework to keep them
busy.

5. * Vacations are 6 weeks in summer and
about 2 weeks each for winter and spring.
* In public elementary and Junior high
schools, school lunch is provided on a
standardized menu and is eaten in the
classroom.
* Junior high schools require their students
to wear school uniform.

6. SCHOOL CULTURE
•Japanese school system controls the
individual by observing group rules.
* Since preschool, children learn to maintain
cooperative relationship with their peers, to
follow the set school routines and to value
relationship.
* In the elementary, one teacher teaches all
subjects in the class.

7. .* Students are taught proper manners, how
to speak politely, how to address adults and
to relate to their peers in the appropriate
manner.
•100% of all students complete elementary
school, more than 90% graduate from high
school & 40% graduate from college.
* In Junior high school, instruction is
intense, structured, fact-filled and routine-
based.

8. * In higher education, students took entrance
exams to “ first tier universities”. Each academic
year has 2 semesters which starts in April.
* General degrees are four-year degrees adapted
from the American system.
* Despite the institutional change and sweeping
national reforms, the key problems remained
unresolved: the pyramidal- structure of the
university system and entrance exam wars, the
centrally-controlled curriculum and lack of
individuality of students as well as lack of
competitiveness in educational suppliers.

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EVERYONE!
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