The Japanese education system is worldwide known for being difficult and challenging but do you know how the system works and looks? You for sure know how Japanese students look. In public schools, they all have to wear uniforms till junior high school, and in college, it depends on the school. Private schools have their own rules so it’s up to them if they will or won’t ask for uniforms.
The Importance of Preschool in Japanese Childhood Education
Before elementary school, children can also daily visit preschool (kindergarten) where they acquire basic skills. Those can be holding pencils, writing their name, staying in a group of other children, being a bit independent, a little bit of cleaning skills, and much more. From a young age, Japanese children are taught key social manners. The interesting manner that children do in preschool is the bow that they take after crossing the road. Preschool children are also easy to spot outside as they always wear colorful matching hats. Preschool/ kindergarten is not mandatory but nowadays it’s getting more and more popular.
Six Years of Learning and Activities
Starting at the age of 6, children go to elementary school which lasts for 6 years and it’s overflowing with academic and non-academic knowledge. Beginning in April the school students are taught subjects such as Japanese language, social studies, science, physical education, homemaking, music, etc. Children also participate in special activities each week, which include class business, planning for field trips and ceremonies, and more.
Three Years of Academics, Clubs, and Cultural Exploration
From 12 to 15 Japanese students go to Junior high school which lasts for 3 years and mainly focuses on academic studies. Secondary school subjects are Japanese language, mathematics, English, social studies, music, PE, health, etc. Here students participate in after-school clubs which can be focused on sports, arts, music, and traditions (tea-making ceremony). Also, in Junior high school older students take longer trips lasting up to several days to culturally important cities in Japan.
Choosing Between High School and College of Technology in Japan
After Junior high school, there are two ways to go, High school and College of technology. This type of school has 5 years which is more than the other option. It’s up to each student which one they choose but, in both cases, students must take examination exams in Japanese language, mathematics, science, social studies, and English. Private schools sometimes add some extra subjects to test in the exams.
A Deeper Dive into Subjects and Structure
Upper secondary school also called High school has the same length as Junior high school. Classes usually consist of 40 students in each homeroom and each period has 50 minutes. Students study the same subjects as in Junior high school like English, Japanese, music, etc. but civil studies are broken down into geography, world history, civics (civil and political rights), sociology, and politics/economics.
From College of Technology to University Options
The following step in education depends on which type of upper secondary school students choose. After the College of Technology, another step is the Advanced course of junior high college which has 2 years. Another possible option is, after finishing High school the next possible steps are University and College or Junior college. University and College have 4 years and in the case of medical education, it’s 6 years. Junior college has only 2 years but to achieve the master’s degree there is an advanced course of junior college that needs to be finished which has 2 more years. Years in university are much different than the previous years of education as the school has looser rules and the schedule should be more flexible and suitable for each student.
The Final Stages of Graduate Education
The next and nearly final step is the Master’s course in graduate school which has 2 years and the final step is the Doctor’s course in graduate school which has normally 3 years but in the case of Medical studies it’s longer.
The Intensive Educational Journey from Elementary to Doctorate in Japan
To summarize, from Elementary school to Doctor’s course of graduate school Japanese students spend 19 years in school with a load of materials to study and under strict rules.
