In contrast, 76.6 percent of female students plan to pursue higher education (42.2 percent to enter college and 34.4 percent to enter junior college or specialized training college), while 18.8 percent of female students plan to work after high school, and 0.8 percent plan to work after middle school (So-mucho- 2000b:61). Fortunately, there were night classes available, and the rest, as they say, is history. The students study, eat lunch, and play in their homerooms. The school consists of an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school, all located on the Chōfu campus. St. Mary’s International School Nurturing, Challenging and Connecting all Hearts and Minds. This is the start of the education process which eventually culminates in each student picking a graduation stream: Science, Commerce, or Humanities in their Senior Secondary School years. The uniforms, called seifuku, differ school to school, but generally there is a requirement to adhere to the uniform. Almost all 15-year-olds go through “examination hell” in order to take the entrance examination for academically ranked high schools. Furthermore, in the 2002-3 school year, the MOE took the unprecedented step of introducing special education for advanced students in 946 model elementary and middle schools, through providing additional teachers, mostly in the fields of English, mathematics, and science (AS August 18, 2001). Therefore, 42 percent of children in the fourth to ninth grades in the metropolitan areas go to private study classes or preparatory schools, in contrast to 28.4 percent in the rural areas who do so (So-mucho- 1996:171). offered by 46 schools. These are the 7th to 9th grades of schooling, with students between the ages of 12 and 15. Almost one-fourth (23.1 percent) of elementary school graduates went to private middle schools in Tokyo in 1994 (Ogawa 2000:195). Children in Tokyo, Japan are required to attend 6 years in primary school, and 3 years in junior high school. There are public schools in Japan that specifically cater to students with developmental, emotional, and physical disabilities. However, at age 6, children are sent to primary schools and then middle schools, where they will be prepared to enter high school. [Source: Miki Y. Ishikida, Japanese Education in the 21st Century, usjp.org/jpeducation_en/jp ; iUniverse, June 2005 ~], Students who are active in clubs agree that the extracurricular activities are the most enjoyable part of school. Teachers as well as the public are opposed to tracking because it stigmatizes low-achieving students, and discourages them from studying rather than helping them learn more efficiently at their level. Founded in 1989 as an alternative to the non-British style curriculums in … Most schools prohibit earrings, makeup, and permed hair. Instruction is in English and follows an American-style curriculum. We believe in small class sizes, with a maximum ratio of 10 students to 1 educator in early elementary, 12 to 1 in elementary, and 14 to 1 in middle school for our core subjects. Also, students considered as low-achievers could receive an inferior quality of instruction from teachers with low expectations. Students in Japan take entrance examinations to be accepted into their chosen institution. [Source: Miki Y. Ishikida, Japanese Education in the 21st Century, usjp.org/jpeducation_en/jp ; iUniverse, June 2005 ~], In 2003 there were 3,748,319 students in junior high schools. For the first time, the MOE approved the mathematics and science of high school textbooks for the 2004-5 school year that include more advanced contents than those in the Course of Study. Care. Parents are happy to pay the tuition because they believe that juku helps their children improve their school performance and increase their chances of passing the entrance examination of the high school of their choice. ~, In response, the MOE officially declared the Course of Study as a “minimum standard” model and suggested that teachers use more advanced instructional materials. Questions or comments, e-mail ajhays98@yahoo.com, Education, Health, Transportation, Energy - Education. Yamamura Kokusai High School. Tokyo International Progressive School. Among parents who selected a public school outside the school district, 45 percent reported that a particularly important criterion was little incidence of bullying and truancy, indicating that bullying was a crucial consideration. Middle School science continues with topics that include weather, motion and time, and electricity. This school is based in Higashi-Nippori, Arakawa Ward and it usually accepts 15 foreign students into its general education course in April and three more in September. Horikoshi High School. These schools have turned into a huge business in Japan. [Notes: 1) A classroom hour unit is 50 minutes. The pace is quick and instruction is text-book bound because teachers have to cover a lot of ground in preparation for high-school entrance examinations. More than 90 percent of junior high schools are public coeducational institutions. She was unable to continue her education because she was needed at home for housework. According to a 1993 survey conducted by the MOE, the majority of middle school students attended juku to review academic subjects and to improve their school performance (So-mucho- 1998:313). KAIS is a member of the International Schools of Tokyo Athletics Association (ISTAA). Educational achievement is tested through midterm and final examinations in each trimester, and eventually by a high school entrance examination. For the most part English is taught from middle school and on, and many college students take classes in the subject, too. They stay involved in club activities until the summer of their senior year, when their attention turns to preparation for high school entrance examinations. Moreover, the competition for high-ranked high schools or even private middle schools in metropolitan areas is fiercer than in rural areas. ~, The middle curriculum includes Japanese, mathematics, social studies, science, English, music, art, physical education, field trips, clubs and homeroom time. The American School in Japan is an international private day school located in the city of Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan. In Japan, children are required to attend primary and middle schools. 雙葉高等学校. //\\, “As she approached 80, she realized that she did not want to leave this world without having received a proper education. Grades: Infant classroom : 12 - 36 months, Primary Montessori classroom : 3 - 6 years old, After School : 6 - 12 years old. Teachers and students are most concerned with the test scores in Japanese language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and foreign language, usually English, all of which are part of high school entrance examinations. Such material is made available in an effort to advance understanding of country or topic discussed in the article. ~, According to a 1999 survey, the majority (74 percent) of parents want their children to continue on to higher education (51.1 percent to college, 8.6 percent to junior college and 14.3 percent to specialized training college), while 19.3 percent want their children to work after high school, and 0.2 percent want their children to work after middle school (So-mucho- 2000b:121). Fifteen of the top twenty high schools that sent most of their graduates to the University of Tokyo in 1989 were private six-year schools (Amano 1996:282). Two-thirds of students have their own study rooms at home (So-mucho- 1996:26). In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. KAIS students also participate in ISTAA’s annual cross-country meet. Tokyo's Leading International School. As a major step towards improving English language education in Japan, the Japanese government introduced English language instruction in elementary schools … Each year students are assigned to a homeroom with a maximum of 40 students (the average class size in 2010 was 29.4), with whom they take their classes. In order to prevent student delinquency, everyone is expected to follow the rules and to make sure that others are doing the same. Students now receive instruction from specialist subject teachers. Some teachers voluntarily remain after school to tutor them. At 81 years old, her story is extremely inspiring and adorable, especially after you realize that her 15-year-old grandson also graduated, albeit from a different school, on the same day. Friends School. Most parents can afford juku. The Research Association has requested that the MOE assign teachers who can speak foreign languages and open public school education to foreign residents who are past the traditional school age (YS February 9, 1998). [Source: Miki Y. Ishikida, Japanese Education in the 21st Century, usjp.org/jpeducation_en/jp ; iUniverse, June 2005 ~], Middle School Curriculum and the Prescribed Number of School Hours per Subject in the 2002-3 School Year (Subject: hours in 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade): A) Japanese Language Arts: 140, 105, 105; B) Social Studies: 105, 105, 85; C) Mathematics: 105, 105, 105; D) Science: 105, 105, 85; E) Music: 45, 35, 35; F) Arts: 45, 35, 35; G) Physical Education: 90, 90, 90; H) Industrial Arts and Home Economics: 70, 70, 35; I) Foreign Language: 105, 105, 105; J) Moral Education: 35, 35, 35; K) Special Activities: 35, 35, 35; L) Elective Subjects: 0-30, 50-85, 105-165; M) Comprehensive Learning Activities: 70-100, 70-105, 70-130; N) Total Classroom Hours, 980, 980, 980. Children in urban areas were more likely to attend juku than those in rural areas, because many highly educated parents in urban areas place higher emphasis on the educational achievement of their children. 9 Middle School in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo, finally received her junior high school diploma at a ceremony held on Tuesday. Requirements also include extracurricular activities, a moral education course, and integrated study. The British School in Tokyo. Male students have to maintain short haircuts. ~, The homeroom is the heart of middle school education. Since 2000, many schools have already introduced integrated study courses. They review the journals of students and the han (fixed group), and track student development as well as behavioral problems. [Source: Education in Japan website educationinjapan.wordpress.com **], Attendance for the three years of junior high school education is compulsory. Among cultural clubs, brass band clubs and choir clubs have daily practice, while painting clubs, volunteer clubs, and academic clubs (such as the chemistry club or the reading club) meet several times a week. For the most part, classes are not segregated based on ability, but some schools have implemented streaming systems for math and English classes. These schools employ many full-time and part-time juku teachers, and operate in urban areas. Montessori School of Tokyo (The) Montessori; ages 2-15; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 170 students. [Source: Miki Y. Ishikida, Japanese Education in the 21st Century, usjp.org/jpeducation_en/jp ; iUniverse, June 2005 ~], For future careers, male students hoped for jobs as company employees (8.8 percent); sports professionals (8.5 percent); programmers, architects, technicians, or interpreters (8.1 percent); and civil servants (7.6 percent), and 44.5 percent of boys surveyed were undecided. Kaisei Academy. This makes it … Reply 10 distinctive features of the Japanese education system that made this nation the envy of the world - itravel 2 Japan says: In 2003, 622 specialized training colleges offered high school courses to 53,000 middle school graduates, including high school dropouts (Monbukagakusho- 2004a). English juku and mathematics juku are operated by retired teachers and part-time juku teachers in their homes or in rented offices several evenings a week between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. ~, However, many teachers are concerned about the possibilities of diminished academic achievement as a result of the reduction of instruction time. However, schools, in cooperation with social welfare agencies, have initiated visits to nursing homes, special schools for disabled children, and group homes for adults with disabilities. The han also take turns delivering and serving school lunches, and the members of a han eat lunch together. Of course, many students excel in their schoolwork without juku. [Source: Miki Y. Ishikida, Japanese Education in the 21st Century, usjp.org/jpeducation_en/jp ; iUniverse, June 2005 ~], Furthermore, private middle schools have “escalators” (free passes) to their parent universities through a quota system for admissions that reserves space for graduates. The juku merely offer children assistance with their schoolwork so that they will perform better on their entrance examinations. Parents are more likely to assume that their sons rather than their daughters will enroll in four-year colleges. ~, After the five-day school week was introduced in April 2002, classroom hours and academic content were reduced. In 2003, there were 10,358 public middle schools, 700 private middle schools, and 76 national middle schools affiliated with national universities, in addition to 183 newly established six-year secondary schools (Monbukagakusho- 2004a). The 1,050 classroom hours in 1984 were gradually reduced to 980 hours in 2002. Tokyo Metropolitan Shinjuku High School ... 内藤町11-4 Shinjuku, 東京都 〒160-0014 Japan. [Source: Cherrie Lou Billones, Japan Daily News via Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2013 //\\], “The road towards that stage where diplomas were being handed out was long and tedious. The teachers’ unions and a MOE Research Survey Group have asserted that teachers are most attentive to individual students when classes are limited to 30. According to a cram school chain, the number of entrance exam takers at private middle schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area has been declining since last year. Private middle schools offer a flexible curriculum geared to preparation for college examinations. Founded in 1976, Aoba-Japan International School (A-JIS) is a secular school, welcoming and respecting families from all nationalities and religions. The National Commission on Educational Reform suggests that elementary and middle schools require students to complete two weeks of volunteer work. 3-1-23, Motoazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo. According to a 1993 survey, 82 percent of American middle schools used some type of ability grouping, although 36 percent of schools reported that they were considering eliminating it (Mills 1998). The members of the han study, eat, work, and engage in planned activities together. “This is very … Top International Schools in Japan British Schools. ~, In 1997, there were 34 night middle schools in eight prefectures to serve 3,344 students, according to a survey done by the Research Association of National Night Junior High Schools. In the 2001-2 school year, 32 percent of elementary schools and 12 percent of middle schools had volunteers working as school librarians (AS February 19, 2004). Yotsuya Station. In 1997, the MOE suggested that volunteer services be considered as a criterion for high school admission. To mitigate the rigid uniformity of middle school education, students can take several elective classes, and “integrated study,” whose content is designed by each school with the goal of stimulating students’ individuality and imagination. The capital of Japan, Tokyo is known for its large number of learning institutions, including primary schools, high schools, and universities. All students learn to cooperate with others in the han, and to take responsibility for the actions of everyone in the group. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students. The problem of tense and exhausted children comes from the rigid educational system and the Japanese emphasis on credentials. In practice, community service has not become popular. More than half of all surveyed middle school students (57.4 percent) did not play with their friends on the day before the survey (So-mucho- 2000b:64). This is particularly true for mathematics and science teachers who are opposed to the 70 unit-hours reduction among mathematics classes, and to the 25 to 60 unit-hours reduction for science classes for ninth graders. The results of school choice remain to be seen. ~, “Juku” are private educational organizations; the term is usually translated as “cram school.” Many large-scale juku, which prepare students for the high school and college entrance examinations, are called “shingaku juku” (cram school for entrance examinations) or “yobiko-” (preparatory cram school for college examinations). In its third decade and now expanded from the original kindergarten format into offering education for older children up to the age of fifteen. ~, The results of a survey-questionnaire sent to schools of 6th grade parents in 2 Tokyo wards showed in 2005: 1) Parents who select a private junior high school for their child tend to be parents with time and economic influence (home-makers or self-employed with one child) base their decisions and place top priority on academic achievement. Some of the more professionally-run juku may provide not only English and mathematics, but also all five academic subjects. Parents expect teachers to correct misbehavior. The members of these committees learn how to accept responsibility. Some students are already far behind when they enter middle school, and have already given up on schoolwork. Preparation for high school entrance examinations is the main focus in middle schools. Math significantly ramps up in Middle Starting in April 2002, elective classes have been increased to a one-hour unit per week for the seventh grade, two- to three-hour units a week for the eighth grade, and three- to four-hour units for the ninth grade. I made great friends here who always stand for each other. currently offer one or more of four IB programmes. At present, no teachers’ aides or additional teachers have been assigned to those who have trouble learning. IB World schools. ~, 81 Year Old Japanese Woman Graduates from Middle School, In March 2013, the Japan Daily News reported: “Ritsuko Kenmoku of the No. There has been an IB World School in this country since: 1979. If necessary, the counseling and guidance committee will also contact the youth center and the municipal police. ~, All children from seventh to ninth grade (ages 12-15) attend middle school after six years of primary education.1 The continuing decrease in the number of childbirths has caused the number of middle school students to drop from 6,106,000 in 1986 to 3,748,000 in 2003. Japanese Middle School Club and After-School Activities, After school, the majority of students participate in extracurricular clubs where they develop their physical or artistic abilities, while learning group consciousness and responsibility. Nevertheless, well-educated upper and upper-middle class parents are more likely to send their children to juku than are lower-class parents. There is a large pool of retirees, homemakers, and community volunteers that have the educational qualifications to work as classroom aides. Educators can attend IB events and workshops. Almost all middle school teachers teach only one subject in which they specialize. In the mid-1990s, the largest such school in the country, called Yoyogi Seminar, had 27 branches, 2,000 employees, and a gross revenue of tens of millions of dollars. The 1998 Course of Study for 2002 onward states that the purpose of middle school education is for “whole-person education.” “Whole-person education” emphasizes students’ physical and mental development. [Source: Miki Y. Ishikida, Japanese Education in the 21st Century, usjp.org/jpeducation_en/jp ; iUniverse, June 2005 ~], Every three or four years the teachers are rotated from one school to another in order to maintain a consistent quality of instruction. She’s only 81 after all. The number of school counselors has been increasing. ~, Some parents force their children to attend juku, while some students go to juku to socialize. Almost half of these jobseekers (49.3 percent) found positions in small manufacturing or construction and the rest (43.3 percent) entered the service industry. We will shortly come up with something new, keep visiting us. Perhaps one of the reasons she resolved to go back is because she was saddened by the fact that she could not help her children with their homework. Furthermore, in April 2002, the board of education of the Setagaya Ward of Tokyo began to invite public high school teachers to public middle schools in order to attract students (AS February 7, 2002). Subject teachers deliver textbook-based lectures, and the students copy what teachers write on the blackboard into their notebooks. School. To be competitive, many middle school students attend juku (cram school) after school. ~, After returning home, middle school students study for about an hour and watch television or play games for about an hour. 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