Exploring the Japanese Educational System

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Japanese Educational System
The Japanese educational system, due to American occupation after the World War II, was heavily influenced by American educational system. The Fundamental Law of Education in Japan was introduced in 1947, changing the educational system to the 6+3+3+4 structure. The current system includes six years of elementary school, three years of Lower secondary school, three years of upper secondary school and, finally, four years of higher education. The last step is not optional and was created for those who are in the academic stream.
It is worth to mention that Japanese educational system is known for its impressive results in passing international benchmarking tests. Among the most notable ones is the OECD Program for …show more content…

It is worth to mention, that there are more than 1, 200 universities and junior colleges in Japan, meaning that Japanese students who wish to pursue tertiary education have all opportunities to succeed. Still, the great number of universities and junior colleges also make the higher education in Japan one of the weakest parts of the whole educational system. The only goal pursued by those who want to get a higher education is to be admitted to the most prestigious school. After the admission, students easily pass through the first three years of an undergraduate program and, generally, use the last year for job …show more content…

Typically, all of them have completed major courses in the subjects that they teach.
Secondary Education (Kotogakko)
High school is Japan is not compulsory and, what is more, it is not free. Nevertheless, about 94% of students continue their education by entering privately-funded or state-owned institutions.
A high schools in Japan welcomes students who reached 15 years and ends when they are 18. After grade 9, students in Japan are divided into two categories: vocational and university entrance. There are also 3 main formats of secondary education: full-time, part-time, or correspondence. The main aim of the secondary school is to prepare students to apply for entrance to universities.
Teachers of secondary schools must complete Bachelor’s degree in Education. Also, some of them have a Master’s degree due to the requirement of greater concentration in the teaching subjects in comparison to primary level.
Vocational Education
Vocational education in Japan was created for students, who choose to enter university. Nearly all of students who have plans to get a higher education almost invariably undergo some vocational training, which is known for its high standards. After passing through vocational studying, students can get the internationally recognized

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