About the Japanese Education System
The Japanese education system was created by taking ideas from England, Germany, France,and the United States and fusing them with Japanese culture and values. The Japanese system is set up much like the South Korean system with six years of primary school, three years of lower secondary school, three years of senior secondary school, and four years of high school. Japanese high school students have the option of attending technical college rather than University.
The TeachersA major strength of the Japanese system is their teachers. Japanese teachers hold a very high status; they are the highest paid civil servants. Teachers often stay with the students for more than one academic year. When a student misbehaves outside of school, the teacher is often called before the parents. Teachers feel that when their students get into trouble it reflects badly on their teaching.
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% of GDP Spent on School3.3% of Japan's GDP is spent on education, compared to 5% in the US.
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No Cafeterias
Japanese schools mainly do not have cafeterias. Students take meals from the kitchen and serve them to their classmates in the classrooms. Out of respect, no one eats until the last student is served.
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How Do They Do So Much With So Little?
Books are small and simple, produced in an inexpensive format.
Buildings are functional but not over the top. School administration is kept to a minimum. |
Clean Up After Themselves
At the end of the day, students clean their classrooms and their hallways.
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