| The education system is funded by the Japanese
government in conjunction with local and regional governments. Children
usually start their formal education at three or four in private nursery
schools, before starting primary school at six.
The first nine years of education are mandatory. They consist of six years of primary school, followed by three years of junior high school. Most children go on to attend high school for another three years. During this time they apply to universities and prepare for the difficult entrance examinations. |
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| The school year begins in April after a ten-day
spring vacation. There are three terms: April to July, September to December,
and January to March. The children have six weeks of summer holidays and
ten days off in the winter. In the past, classes were held six days a week,
but Saturday classes are now being phased out. Classes are large, with
up to 40 students in both primary and secondary school. The language of
instruction is Japanese, but English is a compulsory subject after junior
high school.
Japanese schools have traditionally been very strict and formal. Most children wear uniforms. Children are expected to respect their teachers, whom they address as sensei. They may stand and bow to their teachers at the beginning and end of each class. In recent years, some Japanese young people have reacted against the regimentation of their schools, and these traditions are beginning to change. |
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| The school day is structured with six study periods,
one of which is reserved for meetings and recreational activities. Elementary
schools provide lunch, which the children eat in their classrooms. The
meals are subsidized and parents pay only a small monthly fee for their
children’s lunches. After lunch, the students participate in osoji
or cleaning period. Each class is assigned an area of the school to clean.
There is pressure on students to do well on the university entrance exam, because the reputation of the university determines future career options. Preparing for university is a time of high tension for Japanese students. Many Japanese companies recruit only from the top universities. There are 130 public universities and 300 private universities. The oldest and most famous is the University of Tokyo. Students who do not attend university may enrol in vocational programs. |
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