The Japanese Educational System

478 Words2 Pages
Japan is a highly education-minded society, and academic achievement is viewed as a vital prerequisite for future professional success and also for societal acceptance and esteem. Japanese tradition stresses respect for society and the established order and emphasizes collective goals above the aims and interests of the individual. In the 1980s, an educational reform took place in Japan which resulted in a major shift of emphasis away from those collectivist ideals. Today the Japanese educational system places greater emphasis on flexibility, creativity, individuality, diversity, and internationalization or kokusaika. The Japanese educational system has always emphasized diligence, meticulous study habits, and the ability to self-reflect and think critically. The belief that hard work and perseverance will yield success in life is engrained in every student. A large portion of official school life is devoted to developing character and teaching attitudes and moral values that are deemed acceptable and correct, with the aim of creating citizens that are fully immersed in the core values of Japanese culture and society. Although it is neither mandatory nor part of the official Japanese school system, the majority of children begin their education by attending preschool. Compulsory free schooling officially covers only lower-secondary school (grades one through nine), and during those formative years virtually all Japanese children receive a thorough and balanced education. Approximately 94 percent of students that complete lower-secondary school go on to attend upper-secondary school (grades ten through twelve), even though it is not compulsory. Approximately one-third of these students will graduate from upper-secondary school and will go on to pursue some form of postsecondary education. The academic achievement of Japanese students is extremely high by
Open Document