Primary school (6-year education for students aged 6- 12)
Middle school (3-year education, enrolling students aged 13- 15)
Higher education institutions (3-year education, enrolling 16- 18-year-old students)
The first to ninth grade education in Japan is compulsory. The academic year begins on April 1 day and ends on March 3 1 day of the following year. There will be holidays between semesters. In the past, Japanese children were full-time from Monday to Friday and half-time on Saturday. However, since 2002, this system has been completely abolished. Many teachers are still working on weekends and during the summer vacation (usually in August). According to the law, at least 2 10 days of each school year is the opening day, but most public schools will set aside about 30 days for school celebrations, sports meetings and non-academic ceremonies (especially those that encourage cooperation and school spirit). Excluding these activities and the number of half-day classes on Saturday, the annual teaching time is about 195 days. Japanese people have several important beliefs about education (especially compulsory education). They believe that all students have the ability to learn knowledge, and students' efforts, perseverance, self-discipline and non-academic ability determine their academic achievements. These learning and behavior habits can be learned through lectures and training. Therefore, primary and junior high school students did not teach students in accordance with their aptitude, nor did they adapt to the differences between students.
Japan's nationwide study scope allows students to get a balanced basic education. Compulsory education gives students equal learning opportunities, and the financial allocation of each school is relatively the same. However, this system is considered to lack flexibility and understanding of students' special needs and interests. Japan's education was reformed in 1980s, and the new system emphasized flexibility, creativity and opportunities for self-expression, but only made little progress. Critical thinking is not the most important concept in Japanese education system. Students are generally required to recite the contents of the exam, so the reasons why students get high marks do not reflect their true level.
Because students only take a certain degree of courses, students with talents and learning disabilities are ignored. Suppose: a native English speaker is automatically assigned to an English class that suits his/her level. A junior high school student who doesn't know the mathematics of Grade One in senior high school also needs to learn mathematics below his ability. The school will not provide counseling and elite classes to cater to individual needs. In extreme cases, students with developmental problems are placed in ordinary classes, but teachers lack training for these students.
The reason for this problem is that parents dare not admit that their children have special needs. In the United States, there are specialized technical schools in most areas to serve some seriously disabled students. In this case, each student will be helped by a teacher or a nurse. While these schools provide better services for these students, adult services are facing the crisis of financial difficulties. In compulsory education, textbooks are free. Every three years, the Committee and the headmaster need to select new teaching materials (including books published and approved by the Ministry) from the book list of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is responsible for distributing these textbooks to public and private schools. Textbooks are small and easy to carry, and also become the property of students.
Most schools have a system to contact health experts. Educational and sports equipment is the most advanced. Almost all primary schools have outdoor playgrounds, about 90% schools have gyms, and 75% schools have outdoor swimming pools. But most classrooms have no computers and projectors. Technology is rarely used in teaching and students' practice. As a resource tool, the Internet will not be used by teachers and students.
From primary school to high school, students need to stay in the classroom regularly under the guidance of their tutors every year, which means that they will communicate with their classmates all year round. In this classroom and course, students will learn team spirit and self-esteem. As each class is responsible for cleaning the teaching building, the school rarely employs doormen.