Education Reform in Japan Tsutomu Kimura National Institution for

1. Education Reform in Japan Tsutomu Kimura National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation

3. I. Characteristics of educational system in Japan ～Highly centralized administration Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Prescribes the “Courses of Study” for elementary and secondary schools Authorizes textbooks for elementary and secondary schools Pays the total cost of textbooks for compulsory education，１/３ of the salaries for public school teachers of compulsory education

4. Organizes training courses for in-service teachers  10th year training course Renewal of Teachers License Subsidizes the cost of construction of school buildings Runs 89 state universities

5. Purposes ~Ensuring the quality of education and efficiency →100% enrollment in elementary andlower secondary schools →98% attendance in upper secondaryschools →50% participation in higher education →Zero illiteracy ratio →Reasonably high international performance

6. Are we satisfied？ 　　　　　　　→　Not at all Japanese Children：Serious Problems Have large amounts of knowledge but lack in “Ability to learn and think by themselves” and “Ability to apply this knowledge” ←Excessive competitions for (universities) entrance examinations →Existence of “crammies” →Deterioration of academic performance

7. Successive incidents of school violence and bullying 　←Kindness to others, respect of life and human rights are not sufficiently fostered Necessity of Education Reform →Central Council for Educationin 1995

8. Current problems ~Japanese Children under stress ←Excessive competition for examination →Underdeveloped social side and moral sense →Delayed development of independence →Problems concerning health andphysical stamina ~Continuing decline of educational powerof families and communities

9. Basic direction ~Should produce “creative” individuals and provide more“diversity” and “flexibility” in our education system →Should give children Room to Grow and Zest for Living

10. II. Performance of Japanese Children 1. Moral side

11. Refusal to attend School : Number of students Total Total L. Secondary L. Secondary Elementary Elementary

12. Refusal to attend school : Who refuses? Number of pupils Elementary Lower Second.

13. Dropouts : Upper Secondary Number .of students Percentage Percentage Number of Students

14. Bullying : Number of incidents Total Total L. Secondary L .Second Element. U. Second Elem. U. Secondary

15. Bullying : At which grade? Number of pupils Elementary Lower Second. Upper Second.

16. Bullying : Who bullies? Number of pupils Elementary Lower Second. UpperSecond.

17. Violence at school : Number of incidents Total L. Secondary L. Second Elementary U. Secondary U. Second Element

18. Violence against teacher : Number of schools involved L. Second L. Secondary U. Second U. Secondary Elementary Element

19. Juveniles(14-19) arrested for committing crime per 1000 per thousand Number of juveniles arrested Number of cases

20. Social ethics of high school students

21. Disciplining by parents

22. 2. Academic side

23. (1) International Comparison IEA ~ International Association for Evaluation of Educational Achievement → To examine to what extent children have mastered courses of study taught at school PISA(OECD) ~ Programme for International Student Assessment →To check children’s ability to find out problems related to their own future life and to apply their knowledge and skills to solve them

24. Academic Performance of Japanese Children IEA: Mathematics Elementary SchoolJunior High School 1964 N.A 2nd/12* 1981 N.A 1st/20* 1995 3rd/26* 3rd/39* 1999 N.A 5th/38* 2002 3rd/25* 6th/46* Science Elementary SchoolJunior High School 1970 1st/16* 1st/18* 1981 1st/19* 2nd/26* 1995 2nd/26* 3rd/41* 1999 N.A 4th/38* 2002 3rd/25* 5th/46*

25. Attitudes towards Mathematics and Science (8th grade ~ age 12 to 13) Mathematics Science 1995 1999 1995 1999 Favorite subject 53(68) 48(72) 56(73) 55(79) Easy subject --- --- 15(43) --- (least) Enjoy studying 46(65) 38(--) 53(73) 50(--) Wish to engage in 24(46) 18(--) 20(47) 19(--) an occupation using ~ Important for 71(92) 62(--) 48(79) 39(--) daily life Figures are % and figures in ( ) are average

28. PISA : year 2000 and year 2003 Reading comprehension 1st/ Finland 2nd group/ Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Korea, Japan(8th) →14th Mathematical literacy 1st group/ Japan(1st), Korea, New Zealand → 6th Scientific literacy 1st group/ Korea, Japan(2nd) → 2nd Ability to solve problems 1st group/Korea, Hong Kong, Finland, Japan(4th) Time spent for doing homework and for voluntary study Japan ~ 27th(least), U.K ~ 3rd, U.S.A ~ 17th Korea ~ 20th, Finland ~ 23rd

29. (2) Nationwide survey: year 1993-1994, 2000 and 2002 Comparison: year 2000 vs. year 1993-1994

30. Comparison: year 2002 vs. year 2000

31. Comparison: year 2000 vs. year 1993-1994

32. Comparison: year 2002 vs. year 2000

33. Questionnaire to children Year 2000

34. Year 2002

35. Year 2000

36. Year 2002

41. III. Proposals as Central Council for Education I. Future Model for Education Nurturing Zest for Living to cope with an acutely changing society ~Ability to identify problems foroneself, learn by oneself, think for oneself, make independent judgments and actions and solve problems properly（intelligence）

42. ~Rich sense of humanity to be capable ofself- reliance, cooperation with others, compassion for others（emotion） ~Health and physical strength to live a vigorous life（health） More free time for children ~Strict selection of educational contents and thorough mastery of basicessentials

43. ~Implementation of 5-day school week ~Relaxation of excessive examinationcompetition Liaison between schools, families and communities ~Opening schools to the outside world ~Reducing the role of schools ~Strengthening of educational powerof families and communities

44. II. Education suited to Individual Abilities and Aptitudes ~Breakaway from “Uniform Education” Improvement in entrance examinations →Diversified selectionprocedures Introduction of unifying secondary schools →Lower secondary+Upper secondary schools → No exam at age 15

45. What would you like to be in future? Boys 4th grade (9 -10) 6th grade (11-12) 1. Ball player 1. Salaried worker 2. Salaried worker 2. Ball player 3. Cartoonist 3. Teachers 4. Teacher 4. Footballer 5. Carpenter 5. Medical doctor 6. Medical doctor 6. TV personality 7. Policeman 7. Policeman 8. Train driver 8. Carpenter 9. Toyshop owners 9. Bank clerk 10. Airplane pilot 10. Game producer

46. What would you like to be in future? Girls 4th grade (9 -10) 6th grade (11-12) 1. Teacher 1. Nursery school assistant 2. Nurse 2. Teacher 3. Cartoonist 3. Cartoonist 4. Confectionary owner 4. Nurse 5. TV personality 5. Office worker 6. Nursery school assistant 6. Medical doctor 7. Florist 7. Fashion designer 8. Stewardess 8. Florist 9. Kindergarten teacher 9. TV personality 10. Fashion designer 10. Veterinary surgeon

47. What would you like to do after graduation?

48. IV. Other issues Time spent with children Father Mother Japan 3.32 7.44 Korea 3.62 8.40 Thailand 6.00 8.00 USA 4.88 7.57 UK 4.75 7.52 Sweden 3.64 6.49 (hours)

49. Satisfaction with children