An Insight into Japan’s Education System

The Japanese Education System

The Japanese education system is exceptionally good that it has one of the world’s best-educated populations. It is found that about 95% of Japanese are literate. This is because they concentrate more on the quality of their education.

Japan’s education system is considered one of the best education systems in the world. They follow a different routine in their schools. Let’s look at some Japanese education system facts, that make it stand out from the rest of the world.

Why Does Japan Have the Best Education System?

At the end of World War 2, the Japanese Government decided to turn its ultimate focus on improving its education system. So they made elementary and middle school education compulsory. 

• The academic year of a student is from April to March. Students start their schooling with elementary school (shōgakkō) at the age of 6, students will be studying elementary school for 6 years. But before that, children must join kindergartens or day-care centers to learn basic mathematics and science.
• After elementary school, students take the next step of compulsory education i.e the junior high school/middle school(chūgakkō) for the next 3 years, where subjects like Japanese language, Music, Fine arts, social studies, Mathematics are included. 
• Students now step into the senior high school (koukou) in which they continue their studies for further 3 years, even though it is not compulsory in Japan, almost 94% of the students enroll into it.  

At the end of their senior high school, students have to take up examinations to get into the universities they have chosen. Only the students who pass the examination can get into their desired colleges. In this period, students experience pressure and may suffer mental illness as those who are unable to pass the examination may not be able to continue their education further and the students who don’t pass the exams may experience bullying.

Morals Are the Majors!

The Japanese education system is one of the most successful education systems in the world, they try to concentrate on student’s mental health as well. They give equal importance to mental sanity.

• Students are not only taught subjects like Mathematics, Science but there is a separate period allocated to morals and ethics. They believe that it’s really important for students to be disciplined and well-mannered. 
• Most of the Japanese Schools don’t have Janitors or cleaners, as the students are supposed to clean their classrooms, Corridors, and toilets. During this activity, students are divided and works are assigned accordingly. It helps them to communicate better with their fellow students and teaches them to be team players.
• All the students are asked to sit in their classrooms during their lunch breaks along with their teachers which makes it possible to develop a good relationship between the students and the teachers and Lunches are provided at schools, prepared by chefs with the guidance of nutritionists.
• Students are supposed to wear uniforms to make them feel equal.
• Students are also taught to do some extracurricular activities such as Japanese calligraphy (shodo), Haiku, etc., these classes teach students to know the value of their tradition.