Saw the education system of Japan, extensive repairs after its defeat in World War II in 1945 provided the Forward of curricula and textbooks, especially those decisions that give rise to tendencies partisan and sectarian, such as an article of moral education to be less of nationalism and militarism, they were Before World War II. The reforms had provided an educational system known as «6-3 - 3 - 4», six years of primary school, three for medium and three other post-secondary and four years of the University. Been included in the intermediate stage to the primary to become the first nine years of education, basic education is compulsory up enrollment ratio of 100% as it is responsible for causing students to schools on the responsibility of parents, as referred to in Article 26 of the Japanese law, and is also on the towns, villages and towns responsibility the establishment and equipping of schools to accommodate children at this age.
Despite the fact that secondary schools are not included in compulsory education, but the rate of progress to middle school graduates over ninety per cent (2.94%, according to statistics in 1986), especially in the cities that most of the enrolled children and their daughters almost from high school. Japan is proud that the illiteracy rate of zero per cent (There are opinion says it is 99.9%), but Japan had announced previously that after 2000 a person who is not fluent in a foreign language can not deal with the computer among the illiterate.!
Children learn in primary school essential items necessary for everyday life in society, such as Japanese language and national mathematics, science, social studies, physical education and home economics. Often, one teacher at this stage, the teaching of all subjects except specialized to a small extent, such as handicrafts, music and home economics. In the middle stage are educated to be a founding and active in the community and the State, Vihiwon to choose their way in the future as they learn core skills and knowledge to be able to recognize and accommodate the business and the various functions necessary in the community, and is the teaching of subjects at this stage depending on the specialty or every teacher by rule specialization. As for the secondary stage, he comes to graduates of middle school education compulsory and, after passing the acceptance tests of a high school student that wants to enroll. At this stage, students learn the skills and subjects and different kinds of information that will enable them to serve the community and playing a role and message that must be submitted to the society and state, such as courses in agriculture, trade, livestock production and fishing, and industry, which in turn are divided into other subjects such as machinery, electrical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering , architecture, metallurgy and so on. These schools are often either public schools established and funded by the central government and local schools established by either the province or city or village, or private schools.
As for the psychological universities to graduates of high school after passing the entrance exams of the university that the student wants to attend and not on the high school exam results, as is the case when applying to secondary school after the end of the intermediate stage. And universities are developing the capabilities of students applied knowledge and moral education as well, where students receive knowledge of various research and are also diverse body of research that the University is not only teaching staff. And the duration of study at the University four years, but both the faculties of medicine and dentistry for six years. The graduate is a two stage master, and three doctoral level (no stage of MA College of Medicine and Dentistry, but the stage of Ph.D. for only 4 years), and these universities, most national established and run by the government or established by the province, or private universities and represents the largest number of universities in Japan. And national universities are in contrast to many countries a high profile and prestigious aspire to most students, it provides a good education, but probably the best and the expenses of study less, and are also opportunities for graduates attend top-greater than their capacity.
Apart from these, there are schools and universities, the above-mentioned other schools mainly specialized secondary schools for five years after middle school, and schools for people with special needs, and vocational schools to teach trades and industries, and teacher training schools and intermediate colleges for two years.
Among the most important features and characteristics of the Japanese education system:
- Centralized and decentralized education.
- The spirit of community and collective action and order and responsibility.
- Hard work is more important than talent and intelligence.
- Body of knowledge and the weight of the burden of study.
- Great enthusiasm from students and parents for education and the high stature of the teacher.
Centralization and Decentralization in education:
Japan is generally characterized by the centrality of education, or we can say that the education system dominated by central government. The advantages of this principle in education to provide equal and quality of education for different categories of people across the nation, regardless of county or province where he was born pupil or student, thus providing every child with a basis Gnostic one, whether in northern Japan, or south or central and regardless of the economic situation of this region, it was decided that Japan's education ministry general framework of the curriculum in the articles all but separates the content and methodology of each article and the number of hours taught, and thereby ensure the teaching curriculum, one for each person in the people in any school in a timely manner. Usually there are no substantial differences between schools mentioned in various regions of Japan and all have the standard uniform with a high disparity in the type of excellence only. The Ministry is responsible for planning the development of the educational process at the level of Japan, and administers many educational institutions including universities, colleges and technical. It is well known that schools in Japan are carried out by instilling knowledge, which helped Japan to the transition from a feudal to a modern state after the age of «Meiji Meiji» (1868 - 1912 AD), as well as the transformation of Japan from a debilitating receive aid after World War II into a major economic provide assistance to various developing countries in the world.
But in the real does not mean that the absolute centrality of education in Japan, there is also a premium of decentralization, where in each district of Japan board of education of its own, and is the authority responsible for education, management and implementation in the province. Board of Education consists of five members appointed by the President or the provincial governor with the approval of local government which is to appoint its members including the President of the boycott by the provincial population. This Board choose books appropriate to boycott of textbooks that are usually printed by the private sector, but of course after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Education it. This Board also administers personnel matters including the appointment and transfer of teachers from one school to another, and is supervised by the institutions of the regional education and advising.
And the teachers in spite of central supervision, but they also have a degree of freedom in their capacity as decision-makers from the school, led by the headmaster. They meet in the spring of each year to discuss the report of the educational purposes of the school, planning school activities for a table to achieve those educational purposes and the preparation of a booklet every year. Teachers as well as holding seminars or «Seminar» every three months to deliver research and debate about theories of learning and the problems of the educational process. They are doing the management of their schools without compression binding by the Ministry and under the under the authority of union. Therefore, teachers in Japan feel their importance in decision-making because they are not just staff members of the Ministry of Education.
It seems that the principle of assimilation and the balance between centralization and decentralization in line with the education system of Japan, and reflects the nature of the thinking of Japan in the mix of cultures, old and new. Vantrzip existed before the imposition of the Allied forces, led by the United States of America the principle of decentralization and other reforms on the education system in Japan after Japan's defeat in World War II. But after Japan regained its sovereignty in 1952, the abolition of some of the reforms imposed on them were not suitable, including the principle of decentralization.
Community spirit, teamwork and order and responsibility:
Focus of the Japanese system of education develop a sense of community and responsibility among pupils and students to the community beginning with the school environment surrounding them, such as maintaining school buildings and educational materials, school furniture and so on. It is known from Japanese schools to maintain the cleanliness of the school, the first thing surprise visitor Japanese school, the presence of sneakers at the entrance to the school building is arranged in a cabinet or shelves, wooden, each carrying a shoe name of his friend, where you should take off his pupils shoes normal wear these sneakers clean inside the school building. These typically exist in most primary and middle schools and many secondary schools as well. It is common in Japanese schools, too, that the students at the end of the school day to sweep and clean the classrooms and even sweep and clear lanes to cut off a damp cloth. But most of the laundering of bathrooms and collect leaves falling in the school playground, as well as garbage if you found it!. Often joined by teachers at certain times of the clean-up of the school, whether public or to public places as well such as public parks and beaches in the summer holidays, without feeling Baldap either students or teachers. In addition, the children, providing food for the animals and birds, which the school reared, where there was no personal «guard» or «bed» in Japanese schools and there is no cleaners, so take pupils, students and teachers themselves to clean up the school and beautify appearance of internal and external, but extends this activity to the environment around the school and also with the cooperation of all in times of regular and specific.
It is clear the height of this responsibility and community spirit, cooperation and self-reliance when a meal at school. It is well known that there is no canteens in Japanese schools, but there is a kitchen by a professor of nutrition and a number of chefs in dealing with students and cooked meals cooked fresh daily at school. The students divide themselves into groups, one is creating the classroom to eat, and a second example, you can bring food from the kitchen, and a third is distributing this food to pupils after wearing hats, masks and special clothes for that. This undoubtedly confirms the sense of responsibility and community spirit and self-reliance and belonging to the school and the community, it also provides the other hand, the budget was supposed to monitor these services.
Reflected this spirit is also not only in the working groups for food and hygiene, but in the study groups by the composition teacher when asked of the pupils or students to answer some questions or to resolve the issue, for example in mathematics or perform certain acts or activities for the season, and after collective consultations, including declaring One of the group name the completion of this task. That the re-formation of these groups from time to time or as needed if necessary from time to time so as not to consist of parties or blocs in the classroom. This system is to be stricken by the collective spirit of students, but leadership is also reflected in the appointment of a personal observer or pilot chapter, which is the absence of the teacher at the time of the creation and organization of the chapter and solve problems including the problems of students with each other. And finally at the end of the school day the students to hold a mass meeting where they gather and ask themselves if they have completed their work day to the fullest or not? Or is there a malfunction with their work? Or whether there were problems what? There is no doubt that this method of education aimed at the spirit of community, responsibility, commitment and leadership, is also a psychological deterrent force to rein in inappropriate social behaviors towards society and others.
Hard work is more important than talent and intelligence:
Focus of the Japanese on the principle of «hard work is more important than talent and intelligence inborn child» which is contrary to what is known in the United States and many countries, is also evident from the frequent use of a lot of words that show diligence and perseverance in Japanese like the word «I will do my best» ( ganbarimasu), «I will work very seriously» (isshookenmei yarimasu). Students believe the Japanese to advise teachers and parents, but that success and excellence can be achieved due diligence and effort, not only smart, everyone is equal, and created a degree of intelligence enough. Each person can absorb and study anything in any area and to achieve great success through the effort. Therefore student can study any course even if it does not fit with the orientation as long as there exists a will to make the effort and perseverance. Success and excellence are determined not according to the talent and intelligence, but the difference in the effort.
The Japanese students of the most popular students in the world to study, because they know that the way to gain access to a decent job is hard work and effort and perseverance to accept a prestigious high school and distinguished, and then a prestigious university as well. Students must be graduates of middle schools to pass tests difficult to attend high school and then university, which is selected by, since entering secondary school and university depends primarily on the results of these tests and not only the results of tests of middle school or secondary school. It is well known for Japanese students to make the effort and be well prepared to pass these tests, assisted by the family also provides the comfort to remember their lessons. There are also many students who attend schools pre-civil specializes in preparing them to pass these tests. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Education of Japan, there are about a million and a half called for primary, intermediate stage two million students studying in these schools after the end of the Pre-school day at their schools order to prepare themselves to pass the entrance exams to high school. It is interesting that the student result in a test for admission to these schools Pre-too! Therefore, the flight school to fight the Japanese students are very persistent, and difficult to be able to get admission to secondary school and university of their choice. Not surprisingly, lead the student secondary school entrance examination or the university later in more than one school or university at one time so that it can accept one of the schools or universities established by the order of their wishes. It is rare indeed that fail students in these tests, but because the competition is strong especially at prestigious universities known and which requires a certain number only of the applicants as a capacity, it is also strange to find students after they had failed to accept the university of their choice wished, first, studying a year or two years in pre-schools to prepare to try to accept the same university again, although it can enter another university, but a lesser degree than that selected. This underscores the perseverance and hard work in achieving the aspirations of the student. It also stresses the famous Japanese saying: «yontoo goraku Ionto Gurako» «success of four hours, five hours of failure» a «four hours of sleep means success as five hours of sleep means repetition» Any success should not sleep more than four hours a day!
In fact, this is a struggle for major universities, particularly national ones, due to the acceptance in one of these universities secure the future of the student to get a decent job. It is well known, for example, the University «Tokyo» The graduation of senior men bureaucratic posts, and the University «Waseda - waseda» The graduation of politicians and journalists, and the University «Keio - keiyoo» The graduation of business executives and so on. Therefore Acceptance of the student in one of the largest universities determine the course of his future after graduation. It is also common to join the graduates of these universities to major corporations and government agencies that provide these young people more training in their work, by sending in foreign or domestic missions for further study in certain areas of the field work. But without a doubt that this system in the acceptance, which is known as «Hell tests» a panic most of the students and the summit of psychological tension, which in some cases to suicide, some students not being able to go to university that they want.
Body of knowledge and the weight of the burden mode:
It is known that the system of the Japanese school year differs from most countries of the world where the study begins in the first week of April AD and ending on the twenty-fifth of March. The number of school days and the number of hours in a year longer than any other country, where the school day begins usually for students from eight o'clock am until around four, Teachers Their work until five o'clock, but they continue to serve until the sixth and seventh in the evening. In addition, less than the number of holidays which fall to the spring recess, which does not exceed ten days, as well as the same period of the New Year's Day, and summer vacation, which does not exceed forty days. In addition, the students go to school during the summer vacation for some days depending on the specific program in advance, in addition to assigned duties and carry out projects requiring them to have plenty of effort during the holiday. The practice throughout the holiday sports activities such as swimming and other school on a regular basis by the holiday specified in advance by the school.
As a result, may be the natural course of this effort during the year, student of the Japanese school days more than his peers in America, and get higher grades than their peers in America and other developed countries in the areas of knowledge and courses such as mathematics and science. It is said that the level of Japanese students at the age of ten is equivalent to the level of a student at the age of fifteen in developed countries. This shows the progress the quality of education in Japan. According to the data points conducted by «the global institution for the evaluation of educational attainment» to test the absorption in the field of science and mathematics, there was a Japanese elementary school students at the highest points among the students of other foreign schools. As the result of Japanese high school students from the highest grades as well.
However, the Japanese Ministry of Education has been trying for about ten years to convince students and parents reduce the number of school days to relieve the pupils and students and encourage them to enjoy their time. The debate continued on this project years until you decide to accomplish the House of Representatives in stages, by making the second Saturday and fourth of every month vacation instead of attending school half a day and will eventually start of April this year (2002) study five days a week only Monday to Friday.
It is often said that the education system of Japan before World War II was based on the rote, but today is also said that flexibility, intelligence and initiative significantly, and generally these things are difficult to measure, but in general may tend to nature conservation as well, especially if we imagine that through the enormous body of knowledge in various subjects they teach, as well as the Japanese writing system, which requires a lot of effort to save passages to write for this system.
Says American Professor Edward Biushamb «after my experience in university teaching Japanese no longer surprised a lot when I find that Japanese students are familiar with the United States as more American students».
