Education in Japan is the public sphere to which both the state and society itself pay maximum attention. Largely because of its educational system, this Asian country was able not only to overcome the consequences of defeat in the Second World War as soon as possible, but also to gain a leading position in many high-tech industries.
In its structure, the education of Japan in many ways resembles the educational models of Russia and the developed countries of Europe and America. The first step is an elementary school where children study from six to twelve years. Here young Japanese learn grammar, writing, arithmetic, begin to master the hieroglyphic alphabet. Classes are held not only in the form of traditional lessons, but also in the form of games, excursions, modeling. After finishing the sixth grade, students take final exams.
The next step is the first level secondary school. It includes three years of study, while along with compulsory subjects there are optional classes, where students can get acquainted with the cultural achievements of mankind, as well as gain practical skills in housekeeping and the simplest labor skills. This level is the last required, further education in Japan is carried out on a voluntary basis.
The vast majority of students who graduated from grade 9 continue their education in secondary school. It is also designed for three years, but an entrance exam is already planned here . Entering the second-level school, the Japanese must make a choice in favor of a general or specialized department. The latter is characteristic mainly for rural areas and provinces, where they are interested in specialists in agriculture, marine fishing, and economics. Most students from large cities choose general education departments, so that later they have the opportunity to enter a university.
The higher education system in Japan is an essential component of the entire vocational education system and includes the following types of institutions:
- Full-cycle universities with a 4-year study period.
- Universities with an accelerated program, training in which does not exceed two years.
- Professional colleges where mid-level specialists are trained.
- Technical institutes from which engineers and designers leave.
Higher education in Japan is constantly monitored by the government of the country, which will not only allocate significant allocations for its development, but also constantly improve the curriculum and teaching methods of various disciplines.
The higher education system in Japan includes such world-famous universities as universities in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Sapporo. They not only provide excellent education, but are also actively engaged in the employment of their graduates.
Higher education in Japan is changing along with changes in society, industry and other areas of life. So, in recent decades, short-term courses have become very popular, especially in areas such as economics, social studies, Japanese culture and language. These short-term programs are popular not only among foreigners, but also among the Japanese themselves, who are not shy about the opportunity to receive additional education or retrain for a new specialty.
Education in Japan is largely focused on the fact that the student, whether it is a schoolboy, student, or graduate student, himself strives to obtain this or that knowledge. This is evidenced by the fact that the government in every possible way encourages the activities of the so-called “student scientists”, who already in their first year at the university set themselves the goal of discovering something new in a particular field.