How does primary education work in Japan? Video: working in Japan for international students

It is not for nothing that Japan has the status of the most developed country in terms of technology. Education in Japan is a primary goal in life, which every resident knows about almost from the cradle. That is why in the Land of the Rising Sun they begin to develop children and prepare them to acquire knowledge from kindergarten age. The Japanese study literally from infancy and very intensively. This country has always been closed to foreign students due to its national traditions and the complexity of the language. However, in recent years the situation has been changing, and at the moment there are more than 100 thousand students from abroad studying in Japan.

Education system in Japan

The education system in Japan has remained virtually unchanged since the 6th century. In essence, it is not much different from other developed countries of the world, but there are some nuances. Before school, children go to kindergarten and nursery. There they learn to read, write, count and come to first grade fully prepared. Schools in Japan include three levels - elementary, middle and high, with only the first two being compulsory and free of charge. After school, as in most other countries of the world, graduates enter universities. Those who were unable to enter the university (entrance tests in Japan are quite serious) go to colleges or technical schools, where they receive an applied specialty, almost immediately go to work and complete their studies without interrupting work.

The school year in Japan consists of three trimesters. The very first one begins on April 6 - just around this time sakura begins to bloom - and lasts until July 20. The second begins on September 1 and ends on December 26, and the third lasts from January 7 to March 25.

Schools in Japan

Only the first two levels are free and compulsory in Japanese schools: primary (Shogakkou), where they study for 6 years, and secondary (Chugakkou), where they study for 3 years. The numbering of classes at each level is different: first grade of elementary school, first grade of high school, and so on.

High school (Koukou) lasts 3 years; only those students go there who intend to enter a university after graduation. Education here is already paid for both Japanese citizens and foreigners. Koukou in a public school is very inexpensive, but it is also difficult to get into there. In private Japanese schools it’s the opposite story: it’s expensive, but they accept almost everyone.

In addition to school lessons, almost all Japanese primary and secondary school students attend educational institutions every day - juku (in our opinion, after-school education). These are special private schools that help those children who have difficulty with the school curriculum. Here they help to restore gaps in knowledge, catch up on lost time due to illness or other reasons, and also prepare for exams. In addition, juku also offers non-academic activities: here they teach how to play musical instruments, swim, work on special Japanese abacus (soroban) and much more. Studying in a Japanese school is very difficult; more than 2 thousand hieroglyphs alone need to be learned during primary and secondary school, so the vast majority of little Japanese attend additional classes.

It is quite difficult for foreigners to enroll in a Japanese school. To do this, you need to complete 9 grades in Russia, have a perfect knowledge of the Japanese language and pass an entrance exam in key subjects. There are special schools for Russians, there are about 15 of them throughout Japan, but even there it will be unusually difficult for Russian schoolchildren, since the program is given in both Russian and Japanese schools.

Tuition at a private school in Japan will cost from 400,000 JPY per year, plus a one-time entrance fee of 200,000 JPY. You will have to spend extra on textbooks and other materials. Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

Higher education in Japan

After graduating from school, teenagers can study at colleges, universities and technical institutes in Japan. By the way, higher education in this country is received mainly by men. Despite modern technologies and the 21st century outside, the main role of women in today's Japan, as well as centuries ago, is to keep the home, and not to manage corporations and holdings.

There are more than 500 universities in Japan, of which about 400 are private. The most prestigious is the State University of Tokyo, especially its philological and law faculties. Also deservedly in demand among applicants is the private Waseda University (Waseda Daigaku) ​​in Tokyo, in particular, its philological department, where Haruki Murakami once studied. And the top three is completed by Keio University (also in Tokyo), which graduated most of the Japanese political elite. Also considered prestigious and popular are Kyoto University, Osaka University and Hokkaido and Tohoku Universities.

Higher education in Japan is paid for both citizens of the country and foreigners. It is quite difficult for the latter to enter a Japanese university: firstly, it is expensive, and secondly, you need to know the Japanese language perfectly and pass the entrance exams in it.

A year of study costs from 500,000 to 800,000 JPY per year, depending on the chosen specialty. The most expensive faculties are traditionally economics, philology and medicine.

There is an option to study for free at a Japanese university; this is a government scholarship that is awarded annually to the best graduates. The competition is very high: only 100 scholarships are awarded for almost 3 million. In addition, a university graduate undertakes to return the entire amount of the scholarship for training if, upon graduation, he goes to work in the acquired specialty.

Some Russian universities successfully cooperate with Japanese ones and help their students continue their studies in Japan. In addition, there are special scholarship programs for Russian applicants: “Student” (for school graduates who have studied in Russia for 11-12 years and know Japanese), “Research Trainee” (for university graduates who know Japanese or are ready to study it and want to enroll to graduate school) and “Japanese language and Japanese culture” (for students of language universities).

How to enter a Japanese university

The main thing for admission to higher education institutions in Japan is a document of secondary education (plus one or two years at the institute) and excellent knowledge of the Japanese language. The language training of foreign applicants is treated very strictly here. You must provide a certificate stating that you have completed at least two semesters at a language school and confirm your knowledge in the exam.

In order to be well prepared for admission, it is optimal to attend preparatory courses throughout the year, for example, at the International Students Institute or Kansai International Students Insitute. All applicants take a general education entrance exam and a number of disciplines depending on the chosen faculty. For humanities majors, you must pass mathematics, world history, and English, and for natural science majors, you must pass mathematics, physics, biology, and English.

One of the most important entrance tests is the Japanese language exam. It is taken by both foreign applicants and the Japanese themselves. The exam involves testing knowledge of hieroglyphs and vocabulary, listening and testing knowledge of grammar, as well as four levels of difficulty. To pass the first level you need to know 2000 hieroglyphs, for the second - 1000 and then descending. If an applicant passes the first level exam, then in fact the doors of any university are open for him, but for some, the second or even third is enough.

Especially for the preparation of foreign applicants, one-year Japanese language courses have been organized at the Osaka International Student Institute. Similar courses can be attended in Moscow at the school at the Japanese Embassy.

Language schools in Japan

Language schools in Japan are designed primarily for applicants who need to improve their language skills to enter a university. These courses are usually long-term - from six months - and intensive. The most intensive program includes classes 5 times a week for 4 academic hours. Training costs an average of 300,000 for 6 months. The amount depends on the intensity of classes, additional cultural program and geographical location of the school - in Tokyo prices are one and a half times higher.

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The article presents the education system in Japan. There is a comparison with the education system in Russia.

• Positive and negative aspects of modern education in Russia
• Foreign and domestic experience in education management (using the example of the Russian Federation and Japan)
• Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in the work of a general practitioner

Before talking about the education system in Japan, it should be noted that it differs significantly from the education system in Russia. Japanese schoolchildren and students are hard-working. The Japanese place it at the forefront. It is valued much more than intelligence, intelligence, resourcefulness, wit and the ability to get out of any situation. Quickly and efficiently completed work is the main goal of Japanese workers. They can sit at their desk for a long time and try to complete their tasks efficiently and on time. Because of their work, they can move to other cities quite often; this also distinguishes the Japanese from the Russians. Our working population is not characterized by the desire to work overtime in order to complete their work on time.

Another fact that distinguishes Japanese workers from Russians is the absence of disputes with their supervisor. It is unacceptable for them to enter into conflict with a higher authority. The Japanese are obliged to unquestioningly carry out the orders of their superiors. Since the Middle Ages, they have retained such a quality as respect for elders.

The Japanese have a rather reverent attitude towards education. Only a few Japanese receive higher education, since tuition fees are very high, and parents rarely agree to pay for higher education for their children. In particular, this applies to such areas as information technology and medicine.

Preschool education, as in Russia, is represented by nurseries, kindergartens and kindergartens for the disabled. Nurseries in Japan do not provide any educational preparation, so they are outside the official education system. The nursery accepts children up to 6 months old, and they stay there full-time, unlike a kindergarten, where children stay until the second half of the working day. Kindergarten teachers help children prepare for school. Parents can send their child to kindergartens between the ages of 3 and 6 years.

Schools in Japan include 3 levels: primary, secondary and higher (high school), in fact, just like in Russia. In primary school, children study for 6 years (6 grades). The intermediate level includes 3 years of study. High school, like middle school, lasts 3 years.

Every person in Japan is required to complete primary school. It teaches children general education subjects. From childhood, children develop a “spirit of competition”, so already in elementary school children take difficult exams, the results of which are posted on a rating board for everyone to see. This allows students to strive for the best result, because no one wants to be at the bottom of the ranking.

Children enter the secondary level of education (primary secondary school) at the age of 12 years. Secondary education is also compulsory for all citizens of the state. During their 3-year training, in addition to compulsory subjects, students study subjects such as archaeology, secular ethics, and religious studies. Some private secondary schools have one feature - boys and girls can receive education separately from each other.

Senior secondary school can be represented by a senior school, technical schools and special schools for the disabled. The Japanese study there from the age of 15 on a full-time basis. This level of education is not compulsory, but many decide to graduate from high school. It is divided into natural and human sciences. At all levels of education, students are required to wear a school uniform. They are also responsible for cleaning the school. Some middle and all high schools in Japan are tuition-based.

Higher education in Japan is similar to higher education in Russia. It involves 2 degrees: bachelor and master. A bachelor's degree requires 4 years of study, and a master's degree requires 2 years. There is almost no free higher education in Japan. The most talented, gifted and low-income students can apply for budget-funded places. But there is one condition - upon graduation, students will be required to return part of the funds spent on their education by the state.

In Japan there is special education. Children can take additional courses in subjects that are not taught to them at school. Despite the fact that such courses are paid, more than half of the students attend them. Classes are held in the evenings after primary school, 2 to 3 times a week. Such classes can be attended by students from the 7th grade. Each student can choose exactly those courses that suit him best.

Special attention should be paid to exams taking place in Japanese schools and higher educational institutions. Almost the entire educational process in Japan is devoted to exam preparation. Since the school year begins in April and consists of 3 trimesters, between which there are winter and summer holidays, which in turn can be shortened due to students’ poor performance in some subjects, the Japanese spend almost the entire academic year preparing for the upcoming exams. Children are almost always busy memorizing material. Because of this, children attend special courses in order to prepare well for the test. The mid-term exams cover compulsory subjects, while the end-term exams test students' knowledge in all subjects.

In Japan, there is education for foreigners, since their education is quite prestigious. Foreigners have two ways to obtain it. They can get a full education by studying for 4 or 6 years, but there is a problem with passing exams, since they will also have to take entrance exams. There is a second way to obtain higher education in Japan, it is much easier than the first. It amounts to two years of study at a higher educational institution; it is enough to know English. In Japan, everyone has the right to receive an education if the desire is there, if one is able to pass exams satisfactorily, and if one is willing to pay the tuition.

Thus, we can conclude that such a social policy in the field of education in Japan has a positive effect on the entire state as a whole. Japanese students who have graduated from higher education are quite small, but they are of great importance for the country. They are highly qualified specialists who know their business. Graduates will be adapted to adult life, quickly achieving their goals. So, Japan, as a social state, fulfills its main function, namely, providing every citizen with decent living conditions, therefore, in conditions of crisis phenomena that are clearly manifested in the economies of developed countries, this experience can be very useful.

Bibliography

1. Foreign experience of reforms in education (Europe, USA, China, Japan, Australia, CIS countries): Analytical review // Official documents in education. - 2002. - N 2. - P. 38-50.
2. Grishin M.L. Modern trends in the development of education in Asia. - M.: Eksmo, 2005. – P. 18.
3. Malkova Z. A. Education development strategy for the 21st century in Japan // Predictive models of education systems in foreign countries. M., 1994. P. 46.
4. Fischer G. Once again about the reasons for the “Japanese economic miracle”. - “Russian Economic Journal”, 1995, No. 8. – P. 6.

Japanese education system

The modern education system in Japan has developed
130 years ago, during the years of rapid modernization of the country, which began in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration. It cannot be said that the school system that existed before that time did not satisfy the state’s needs for competent employees. Since the 15th century, children of aristocrats and samurai received secular education at Buddhist temples. Since the 16th century, with the development of commerce, the offspring of merchant families also flocked to education. Their monks taught reading, writing and arithmetic. True, until the Meiji Restoration, education in the country remained class-based. There were separate schools for the children of aristocrats, warriors, merchants, and peasants. Most often, such schools were family enterprises: the husband taught boys, the wife taught girls. The main emphasis was on teaching literacy, although there were some nuances. The children of nobles were taught court etiquette, calligraphy and poetry, while the offspring of commoners were taught skills more necessary in everyday life. Boys devoted a lot of time to physical exercise, and girls were taught the basics of home economics - sewing, the art of making bouquets. But even then, in terms of population literacy, Japan was hardly inferior to other countries in the world.

Education in Japan is a cult supported by family, society and the state. From a young age, the Japanese study constantly and intensively. First - to enter a prestigious school, then - to get into a competition at the best university, then - to get a job in a respected and prosperous corporation. The principle of “lifelong employment” adopted in Japan gives a person the right to only one attempt to take a worthy place in society. A good education is considered a guarantee that she will be successful.

Japanese mothers are obsessed with making sure their children get the best education possible. In a situation where the majority of Japanese are at the same level of wealth (72% of the country's residents consider themselves to be middle class and have approximately the same income), children's education is the only thing in which they can compete.

Such serious attention to education gave rise to “juku” - special evening schools for preparing for prestigious educational institutions. The number of such schools, analogues of which appeared in Japanese monasteries back in the 18th century, exceeds 100 thousand. Small “juku” sometimes consist of 5-6 students who meet at the teacher’s home, while large ones have up to 5 thousand students. Classes are held from 16:50 to 20:50, from Monday to Friday, and weekly tests are usually scheduled for Sunday morning. The competition for admission to the most prestigious educational institutions is so great that newspapers use the expression “exam hell.” To prepare for the juku entrance exams, so-called “courage ceremonies” are held, during which students wearing headbands (the school motto is written on them) shout with all their might: “I will get in!”

Preschools

The first nursery in the country was created in 1894 in Tokyo, but the idea of ​​early separation from the mother did not become popular. The first Froebel-type kindergarten was founded in 1876 in Tokyo by the German teacher Clara Zidermann. Its main direction - children's amateur performances - is still relevant today. Since 1882, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture began to open kindergartens for the poor.

Documents regulating the activities of preschool educational institutions

Standards for early childhood education and official regulations for kindergartens were developed in 1900, and in 1926 the Kindergarten Act came into force. It recommended creating kindergartens based on nurseries. By law in 1947, kindergartens and nurseries became part of the primary school system. The nurseries were converted into day care centers under the Department of Health and Welfare and during the 1960s. their programs no longer differ from those of kindergartens.

Admission of children to preschool institutions

In Japan, kindergarten is not a compulsory educational level. Children come here at the request of their parents, usually from the age of four. Sometimes, as an exception, if the parents are very busy, the child can be taken to kindergarten from the age of 3. There are also nurseries for one-year-old babies in Japan, but it is not recommended to separate them from their family so early. To place a child in such an institution, parents must prepare a special application and justify the impossibility of raising the child at home until the age of 3.

Network of preschool institutions

In Japan, a system of private and municipal kindergartens has been created, as well as day care groups for children, which differ from ordinary kindergartens in more modest conditions for children. But all kindergartens are paid. Parents spend about a sixth of their average monthly salary on them. All kindergartens are day care, usually open from 8.00 to 18.00. There are a small number of after-school gardens.

Among private preschool institutions, a special place is occupied by the so-called elite kindergartens, which are under the tutelage of prestigious universities. If a child ends up in such a kindergarten, his future can be considered secure: upon reaching the appropriate age, he goes to a university school, and then enters the university without exams. In Japan, there is quite intense competition in the field of education: a university diploma is a guarantee of obtaining a prestigious, well-paid job in the ministry or in some well-known company. And this, in turn, is the key to career growth and material well-being. Therefore, it is very difficult to get into a kindergarten at a prestigious university. Parents pay a lot of money for their child’s admission, and the child himself must undergo quite complex testing in order to be accepted. Relations between parents of pupils in elite kindergartens, which, as a rule, belong to successful, prosperous corporations, are quite tense and jealous. However, there are not so many such preschool institutions. Just as there are not many kindergartens of a pro-Western direction, in which the principles of free education dominate and there is no system of classes that is rigid and quite difficult for young children, characteristic of elite kindergartens.

The system of preschool education institutions in Japan cannot be considered sufficiently developed. Almost half of the children remain outside this system. Therefore, working parents have to wait a long time for the opportunity to enroll their child in kindergarten.

They are trying to defuse tensions with child care institutions through various public initiatives. Help centers are opening for working parents whose children do not attend kindergartens. This assistance is provided by volunteers who want to earn extra money by looking after children. As a rule, they are unemployed housewives with children of their own. They gladly welcome other people's children into their houses or apartments. The duration of the service is determined by the interested parties themselves.

In kindergarten, much attention is paid to education. An agreement is concluded with parents; there is a program, the content of which includes caring for the health of children, the development of their speech and self-expression. There are about 20 children per adult.

In day care centers the emphasis is on education. Infants and preschoolers are raised together. Children are sent to them by municipal authorities. The fee depends on family income. The content of the work includes:

• baby care;
• ensuring his emotional stability;
• health care;
• regulation of social contacts;
• familiarization with the surrounding world;
• development of speech and self-expression.

In such centers there are an average of 10 children per adult.

In addition to the above-mentioned types of preschool institutions in Japan, there are additional schools for gymnastics, swimming, music, dance, art, as well as private kindergartens at schools preparing for admission to universities.

Opening hours of preschool institutions

Children over 3 years old are in kindergarten for about 4 hours a day. Day care centers operate on an eight-hour schedule. But nowadays there are also preschool institutions, where even children of the first year of life are from 9.00-10.00 to 21.00-22.00.

In kindergartens, the menu for children is carefully thought out. Educators advise parents on how to prepare obento - a lunch box that every mother should prepare for her child in the morning. It is recommended to use 24 types of products. The menu must include dairy products, vegetables, and fruits. The vitamin and mineral composition of the dishes and their calorie content are calculated (it should not exceed 600-700 calories for one lunch).

The composition of groups in kindergarten is not constant. When teaching children to interact, Japanese educators form them into small groups (han), which is the most important distinctive feature of the organization of preschool education. These groups have their own tables and their own names. Children are encouraged to make decisions taking into account the wishes of all members of the group. In addition, such groups serve as a kind of unit for joint activities. Group of 6-8 people. includes representatives of both sexes and is formed not according to abilities, but in accordance with what can direct their activities in an effective direction. Each year the groups are formed anew. Changing the composition of children is associated with an attempt to provide children with the widest possible opportunities for socialization. If a child does not have good relationships in this particular group, it is possible that he will find friends among other children. Children are taught many skills, including how to look at others, how to express themselves and take into account the opinions of their peers.

Teachers are also being changed. This is done so that children do not get too used to them. Attachments, the Japanese (following the Americans), believe that children become dependent on their mentors, and the latter are burdened with too serious responsibility for the fate of the children. If the teacher, for some reason, dislikes the child, this situation will not be very difficult either. Perhaps he will develop friendly relations with another teacher and he will not think that all adults do not like him.

In Japan, there is a trend of turning preschool into a family center. We can only judge this from indirect evidence, for example, from the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and Welfare to restructure the activities of day care institutions so that they begin to function as centers that play an important role in the overall structure of the neighborhood, capable of meeting the diverse needs of parents with small children .

But according to tradition, preschool education begins in the family. Home and family are perceived as a place of psychological comfort, and the mother is the personification of it. The heaviest punishment for children is removal from home, even for a short period. That is why a child is punished for an offense not by a ban on going out with friends, but by excommunication from home. In the relationship between parents and children, there is no demanding or judgmental treatment, threats, spanking, or slaps, especially in public places.

For Japanese women, the main thing is still motherhood. After having children, a Japanese woman's life milestones are most often determined by the phases of her children's lives (preschool, school years, entering university, etc.). Many Japanese women believe that raising children is all they need to do to make their lives “ikigai”, i.e. made sense.

The modern Japanese family retains a number of specific features, the main one of which is patriarchy. Japan is characterized by the traditional idea of ​​dividing life roles by gender: the man works outside the home, the woman runs the household and raises children. The concept of family emphasizes the continuity of the family line, the attenuation of which is perceived as a terrible disaster. This results in a very careful, loving attitude towards one’s own and other people’s children, their health and personal development.

In Japan, children's desire for parental care is viewed positively. According to the majority of citizens, it protects the child from bad influences and the use of narcotic and psychotropic drugs. The main meaning of primary socialization in Japan can be formulated in a few words: the absence of any restrictions for children. The educational doctrine, as G. Vostokov noted, is applied to children “with such gentleness and love that it does not have a depressing effect on the soul of children. No grumbling, no strictness, almost complete absence of corporal punishment. The pressure on children is so mild that it seems as if the children are raising themselves, and that Japan is a children's paradise in which there are not even forbidden fruits. This attitude towards children in Japan has not changed: parents behave with their children today in the same way as before.”

Japanese women tend to regulate their child's behavior by influencing his feelings, avoid confrontation with his will and desire in every possible way, and more often express their dissatisfaction indirectly. They try to expand emotional contact with the child, seeing this as the main means of control; what is important for them is demonstrating correct behavior in society by example, rather than verbal communication with children. Japanese women avoid asserting their power over children, as this leads to the alienation of the child from the mother. Women focus on the problems of emotional maturity, compliance, harmonious relationships with other people and consider emotional contact with the child as the main means of control. The symbolic threat of loss of parental love is a more influential factor for the child than words of condemnation. Thus, by watching their parents, children learn how to interact with other people.

However, the practice of introducing children to group values ​​is still carried out in kindergartens and schools. It is for this purpose that the child is sent to preschool. Kindergarten and nursery schools are places where children spend most of their time and where their character development is accordingly influenced.

As the Japan Today magazine notes, nowadays there is an increased attention of the Japanese to the younger generation, and this is caused by the demographic crisis. The rapid aging of Japanese society is directly related to the decline in the birth rate. Taking these circumstances into account, a social system of state support for parents in raising their children in the preschool period is being formed in Japan. At the birth of a child, every working mother has the right to an annual paid leave to care for him. For each child, the state pays parents an allowance for their upbringing. Until 2000, it was paid for up to 4 years, now - up to 6, i.e. actually before entering primary school.

In Japan, an increasing number of companies are striving to create a “family-friendly environment.” For example, after returning to work, women are not only restored to their previous jobs, but also receive benefits in the form of a shorter working day and the opportunity to switch to a “sliding” work schedule.

Parents' clubs are also being created where mothers relax with their children in their free time. While parents communicate with each other, student volunteers work with their children, for whom this activity is a form of social activity. Since 2002, such parent clubs began to receive financial support from the state.

Schools

Children aged 6 to 15 are required to attend a six-year primary school followed by a three-year junior high school. Children from low-income families receive subsidies to pay for school lunches, medical care and excursions. In each area of ​​attendance there is only one school of a given level of education, so the child is doomed to attend only this one. However, parents are given the right to send their children to private paid institutions of all levels of education, but they have rather strict selection rules.

In elementary school, they study the Japanese language, social studies, arithmetic, science, music, drawing and crafts, home arts, ethics, and physical education. In private schools, ethics can be partially or completely replaced by the study of religion. There is also a subject called “special activities”, which includes club work, meetings, sporting events, excursions, ceremonies, etc. Students themselves take turns cleaning classrooms and other areas of the school, and at the end of the school term everyone goes out for a general cleaning.

After graduating from primary school, the child is required to continue studying at junior secondary school. Along with the compulsory subjects (mother tongue, mathematics, social studies, ethics, science, music, art, special activities, physical education, technical skills and home economics), students can choose a number of subjects - a foreign language, agriculture or an advanced course in mathematics.

The next step on the way to university is senior secondary schools. These educational institutions are divided into full-time (the duration of study is three years), as well as evening and part-time (they study here for a year longer). Although evening and correspondence school graduates receive equivalent graduation certificates, 95% of students choose to attend full-time schools. According to the profile of education, one can distinguish general, academic, technical, natural science, commercial, arts, etc. senior secondary schools. About 70% of students choose the general curriculum.

Admission to senior high schools is based on a junior high school (Chugakko) certificate and a competitive entrance exam. At senior high school, in addition to compulsory general education subjects (Japanese, mathematics, science, social studies, etc.), students can be offered elective disciplines, including English and other foreign languages, as well as technical and special disciplines. In grade 12, students must choose one of the study profiles.

According to the regulations of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the university's knowledge assessment system is used in upper secondary schools. This means that each student must complete at least 80 credits to obtain a 12-year high school certificate (Kotogakko). For example, based on the results of studying each of the two courses of the Japanese language and modern Japanese literature, 4 credits are given, for the lexicology of the Japanese language and lectures on the classical language - two credits each.

The school year in Japan begins on April 1st (no joke) and ends on March 31st of the following year. It is usually divided into trimesters: April-July, September-December and January-March. Schoolchildren have holidays in summer, winter (before and after the New Year) and spring (after exams). Rural schools tend to have farm seasonal holidays by shortening the summer holidays.

Colleges

Japanese colleges can be equated in status to our secondary specialized educational institutions. They are divided into junior, technological and special training colleges. Junior colleges, of which there are approximately 600, offer two-year programs in the humanities, sciences, medicine and technology. Their graduates have the right to continue their education at the university from the second or third year of study. Admission to junior colleges is carried out on the basis of high school. Applicants take entrance exams and, less and less often, the First Stage Achievement Test.

Junior colleges are 90% private and very popular among young people. The number of people wishing to enroll in them annually is three times higher than the number of places. About 60% of colleges are women-only. They study subjects such as home finance, literature, languages, education, and health.

You can enroll in technology colleges after graduating from junior or senior high school. In the first case, the duration of training is 5 years, in the second - two years. These types of colleges offer courses in electronics, civil engineering, mechanical engineering and other disciplines.

Colleges of special training offer one-year professional courses for accountants, typists, designers, programmers, auto mechanics, tailors, cooks, etc. The number of such educational institutions, most of which are private, reaches 3.5 thousand. True, their graduates do not have the right to continue their studies at a university, junior or technical college.

Universities

There are about 600 universities in Japan, including 425 private ones. The total number of students exceeds 2.5 million people. The most prestigious public universities are Tokyo University (founded in 1877, has 11 faculties), Kyoto University (1897, 10 faculties) and Osaka University (1931, 10 faculties). They are followed in the ranking by the universities of Hokkaido and Tohoku. The most famous private universities are Chuo, Nihon, Waseda, Meiji, Tokai and Kansai University in Osaka. In addition to them, there is a significant number of “dwarf” higher educational institutions, numbering 200-300 students in 1-2 faculties.

You can enter state universities only after completing high school. Reception is carried out in two stages. At the first stage, applicants centrally take the “General First Stage Achievement Test”, which is conducted by the National Center for University Admission. Those who successfully pass the test are allowed to take entrance exams held directly at universities. Those who receive the highest marks in tests are allowed to take exams at the most prestigious universities in the country.

It should be emphasized that private universities conduct entrance exams independently. The best private universities have primary, junior and senior secondary schools and even kindergartens in their structure. And if an applicant has successfully completed the entire path from kindergarten to high school in the system of a given university, he is enrolled in it without exams.

A characteristic feature of the organization of the educational process at Japanese universities is a clear division into general scientific and special disciplines. For the first two years, all students receive general education training, studying general scientific disciplines - history, philosophy, literature, social science, foreign languages, as well as taking special courses in their future specialty. During the first two-year period, students have the opportunity to delve deeper into the essence of their chosen specialty, and teachers are able to make sure that the student has made the right choice and determine his scientific potential. Theoretically, at the end of the general scientific cycle, a student can change specialization and even faculty. In reality, however, such cases are extremely rare and occur only within one faculty, and the initiator is the administration, not the student. In the last two years, students study their chosen specialty.

Durations of study at all universities are standardized. The basic course of higher education is 4 years in all main areas of study and specialties. Doctors, dentists and veterinarians study two years longer. Upon completion of the basic course, a bachelor's degree is awarded - Gakushi. Formally, a student has the right to enroll in a university for 8 years, that is, the expulsion of negligent students is practically excluded.

University graduates who have demonstrated research ability can continue their studies for a master's degree (Shushi). It lasts two years. The Doctor of Philosophy (Hakushi) degree requires three years of study for those with a master's degree, and at least 5 years for bachelors.

In addition to undergraduates, graduate students, and doctoral students, Japanese universities have adjuncts, transfer students, research students, and collegiate researchers. Volunteers are enrolled in a basic course or graduate school to study one or a number of courses. Transfer students from Japanese or foreign universities are enrolled to attend one or more lectures or to receive graduate or doctoral supervision (based on previously earned credits). Research students (Kenkyu-sei) enter graduate school for a year or more to study a scientific topic under the supervision of a professor at the university, but are not awarded academic degrees. Finally, collegiate researchers are teachers, teachers, researchers and other specialists who have expressed a desire to conduct research under the supervision of a professor at a given university.

Advanced training system

Graduates of higher educational institutions continue their studies in the corporations that hired them. The “lifetime employment” system provides that a person works in one company for up to 55-60 years. When selecting applicants, the rating of the university that graduated them is taken into account, as well as the results shown in testing, which includes questions to determine the degree of general training and culture, assimilation of humanitarian and technical knowledge. The best applicants undergo an interview, during which their personal qualities are assessed (communication skills, willingness to compromise, ambition, commitment, ability to enter into a system of already built relationships, etc.).

Recruitment is carried out once a year, in April. Immediately after this, new employees undergo a mandatory short training course lasting 1-4 weeks. Within its framework, they get acquainted with the company, its production profile, organizational structure, development history, traditions, and concept.

After the introductory course, they begin a period of apprenticeship, which varies in duration from two months to a year. The learning process consists mainly of workshops held in various departments of the company, lecture courses and seminars on the system of organizing production, labor, sales, and on the specifics of the work activities of future managers. The ratio of practical and theoretical classes is almost always in favor of the former (from 6:4 to 9:1).

Japanese companies have adopted a constant rotation of personnel. After the employee has become sufficiently familiar with one specialty, he is transferred to another workplace, where the process of practical training begins again. Periodically changing jobs during an employee’s career (usually 3-4 times) is considered the best way to improve staff skills. Thanks to rotation, “generalist managers” are formed who are well aware of the specifics of the activities of many divisions of the company.

In addition, managers undergo additional academic training. They are taught courses on production management, its maintenance, product sales, financial activities, personnel management and international trade.

Summary.

Based on the above, we can conclude that education in Japan is a cult. And much attention is paid to educational aspects in the Japanese education system. And, in my opinion, this is very good, since any person in this country can be confident in their future, as well as in the future of their children. Although in Japan, as well as in Russia, there is a shortage of places in kindergartens. Just like in Russia, Japanese kindergartens have a heavy teaching load. But in Japan, every educational institution employs a whole team of medical workers: a doctor, a nurse, a dentist, a pharmacist, a health supervisor. They all monitor the health of little Japanese, which would not hurt our educational institutions, because... Only 30 percent of healthy children graduate from high school.

I also liked the system of interconnection between all educational institutions, from kindergarten to university. Thus, a child from an early age goes towards his goal and he has all the guarantees that he will definitely study at a university.

Another important aspect of education in Japan is thatFor every Japanese, “kokoro” means the idea of ​​education, which is not limited to knowledge and skills, but contributes to the formation of a person’s character, which is important for later life.

A university diploma in Japan is a guarantee of obtaining a prestigious and well-paid job, and this, in turn, is a guarantee of career growth and material well-being, which cannot be said about education in Russia.

But what I like most about this country's system is that Japan is the only developed country in the world where teacher salaries are higher than those of local government officials.

In general, comparing the Japanese and Russian education systems, we can say that they are very similar and have a lot in common, but the Japanese system is the most thought out and taken to its logical conclusion.

Bibliography

1. V.A.Zebzeeva Preschool education abroad: history and modernity. – M.: Sphere shopping center, 2007

2. Paramonova L.A., Protasova E.Yu. Preschool and primary education abroad. History and modernity. M., 2001.

3. Sorokova M.G. Modern preschool education. USA, Germany, Japan. Current problems and development paths. M., 1998. P. 47.

2012 Economics No. 2(18)

I.A. Petinenko, A.A. Weaver

JAPANESE EDUCATION SYSTEM: WHAT LEADS THIS COUNTRY

TO SUCCESS?

All levels of the Japanese educational system are examined, from preschool to postgraduate education. The peculiarities of raising children in educational institutions are revealed, the stages of formation of characteristic Japanese traits are shown - hard work, diligence, the ability to work in a team, understanding one’s place, the desire to work for the company and not for oneself, adherence to a strict hierarchy, etc.

Key words: education, education system, Japan, education in Japan.

One of the driving forces of progress in any area of ​​human activity is the synthesis of accumulated world experience. In the context of reform of the education system in our country, the study and analysis of the development of education abroad is becoming increasingly important.

Based on this, the purpose of this scientific work was to study the features of the modern Japanese education system.

The structure of education in Japan includes (Fig. 1): an optional level - kindergarten; school education, which is divided into junior, middle and senior schools - the peculiarity is that after secondary school you can go to various special schools and colleges of technology; and higher education, divided into universities and the non-university sector.

Let's take a closer look at each level of education.

Preschool education. In Japan, kindergarten is not a compulsory educational level. Children come here at the request of their parents - usually from the age of four.

All kindergartens in Japan are private. Among them, a special place is occupied by the so-called elite gardens, which are under the tutelage of prestigious universities. If a child ends up in such a kindergarten, his future can be considered secure: upon reaching the appropriate age, he goes to a university school, and from there he enters the university without exams. In Japan, there is quite intense competition in the field of education: a university diploma is a guarantee of obtaining a prestigious, well-paid job - in the ministry or in some well-known company. And this, in turn, is the key to career growth and material well-being. Therefore, it is very difficult to get into a kindergarten at a prestigious university. Parents pay a lot of money for their child’s admission, and the child himself must undergo quite complex testing in order to be accepted.

Rice. 1. Education system in Japan

Japanese educators, teaching children to interact, unite them into small groups (han), which is the most important distinctive feature of the organization of preschool education. These groups are formed not according to abilities, but according to what can make their activities effective. Each year the groups are created anew. The constant change of children's composition is associated with an attempt to provide children with the widest possible opportunities for socialization. If a child does not have good relationships in a particular group, it is possible that he will make friends among other children.

Raising young children in Japan immediately plunges them into intense competition for a better future; it does not always promote the development of a person’s creative abilities, but skillfully forms in the child the concept of human society, raises a physically and mentally healthy person who knows how to work in a team, strictly following instructions and without disturbing others.

School education. School in Japan is divided into three levels:

1. Primary school (grades 1-6) - shogakko.

2. Middle school (grades 7-9) - chugakko.

3. High school (grades 10-12) - Kotogakko.

Primary and secondary schools in Japan are compulsory for everyone and free of charge. High school is not compulsory, but about 95% percent continue their studies after high school. 48% of high school graduates go on to college (2 years) or university (4 years).

Tuition in high school and university is always paid, but in public institutions it is cheaper. There are also fee-paying private primary and secondary schools. In all paid institutions you can study for free or get a big discount if you win a scholarship competition.

In elementary school, children study Japanese, mathematics, science (physics, chemistry, biology), social studies (ethics, history, etiquette), music, fine arts, physical education and home economics.

In secondary school, English and several special elective subjects are added to the list of subjects. The composition of these subjects depends on the school.

The high school curriculum is slightly more varied than the middle and primary school curriculum, but students are given more opportunities to specialize in a particular area of ​​study.

In addition to the school itself, most students attend paid juku preparatory courses, which help them better prepare for passing school exams. Juku classes usually take place in the evening, two to three times a week. “Juku” translated means “school of excellence,” but it would be more correct to say “tutoring school.” There, specially hired teachers once again explain to the children what has already been said at school during the day, adding new knowledge to this knowledge, which they can show off in the exam. And if previously studying juku was required for admission only to the best universities and schools, now it is also necessary for enrollment in the rank and file.

One sixth of junior schoolchildren, half of middle schoolers and almost all seniors attend Juku. The annual income of all juku amounts to an incredible trillion yen, comparable to the country's military expenditures. There is no such system in the world.

The main problem of Japanese schools is the exhausting exams, each of which takes several hours of hard work and much more time in the process of preparing for it. From time to time they become the cause of schoolchildren's suicides.

Middle and high school students take exams at the end of each term and midway through the first and second terms. Examinations usually take the form of written tests. Exams are graded using a percentage system. The highest score is 100 points.

The transition from middle school to high school is based on exam results. First, based on his school performance, the student receives a list of high schools to which he has a chance of admission. He then takes a transition exam, and based on his results and previous performance, the question of which high school the student will enter is decided.

Good students end up in prestigious high schools, bad students end up in run-down schools for those who do not intend to graduate. Such schools focus on home economics, agriculture, etc. Career

their graduates have no prospects. Those who do not want to enroll in high school can enroll in five-year "technological colleges" - vocational schools. However, entering them is not so easy - there is a lot of competition for the best of them, since skilled workers are highly valued in Japan. Some technical colleges are owned by large firms, and their graduates are immediately employed.

Higher education. The higher education system includes the following main four types of educational institutions:

1) full cycle (4 years) and accelerated cycle (2 years) universities;

2) professional colleges;

3) schools of special training (technological institutes);

4) schools of postgraduate studies (master's programs).

Perhaps the main distinguishing feature of the Japanese higher education system is its hierarchy. Rigid hierarchies (often “non-overlapping”, i.e. existing autonomously and independently of each other) permeate both the university and non-university sectors.

The non-university sector is, in fact, “second-class universities”, performing social rather than educational functions. Legally, two- or three-year junior colleges are considered full-fledged universities, but the actual training and prestige of their diplomas do not correspond to the level of higher education.

Technological colleges train secondary technical personnel on the basis of a compulsory nine-year school and in many respects correspond to our technical schools.

In essence, the only full-fledged universities whose graduates do not experience discrimination and are listed on the labor market are full-cycle universities. The hierarchy of these universities includes the following levels:

1. Several of the most prestigious private universities, such as Nihon, Waseda, Keio or Tokai University. Their graduates constitute the top class of Japanese management and politics. It is almost impossible to get into such a university without appropriate preparation and recommendations, but their diploma provides a 100% guarantee of successful employment, regardless of grades and often specialty.

2. Public universities that occupy first places in the rankings (Tokyo Institute of Technology or Yokohama State University). Tuition fees here are significantly lower, but the competition is extremely high.

3. Other public universities, most often established by prefectures and local governments. Low tuition and moderate competition.

4. Small private universities. With high tuition fees, there is low competition, an unprestigious diploma and unguaranteed employment.

Master's and postgraduate programs in Japan are organized into postgraduate schools located at universities and with relative autonomy. It is curious that the main scientific resources in Japan

were involved specifically in teaching in state master's programs, while the level of teaching in bachelor's programs remained relatively low.

The Japanese bachelor's degree is focused mainly on the "in-line" production of qualified specialists necessary to maintain the system, while the master's degree is focused on the production of proactive analysts capable of designing its development. The technological leap in Japan became possible largely due to this division of tasks and the successful development of postgraduate schools.

To sum up, we can say with confidence that, despite the fact that the Japanese education system is relatively young, it is one of the best not only in the Pacific region, but throughout the world. The Japanese, having synthesized all the latest achievements of pedagogical science with the peculiarities of the structure of Japanese society, were able to provide their country with not only impressive economic growth rates, but also a fairly high standard of living. They realized earlier than others that an effective education system in a country with a high level of automation is not only mandatory, but vital. Therefore, we can confidently say that the lion’s share of the economic and social development of this country is a consequence of a well-structured education system.

Literature

1. Mukhanov V. Education in Japan [Electronic resource] // Education: everything for applicants. 2008. URL: http://www.edunews.ru/ (access date: 03/20/2011).

2. Bordovskaya N., Rean A. Pedagogy. Ch. IV: Education in the world: history and modernity [Electronic resource] // Electronic library Gumer. 2008. URL: http://www. gu-mer.info/ (access date: 02/17/2011).

3. Salimova K.I. General education school in Japan in the 21st century. // Pedagogy. 2006. No. 8. P. 88-96.

4. Bondarenko A. Japanese school through the eyes of a Russian // Primary school. 2005. No. 5. P. 120126.

5. Plaksiy S.I. Qualitative parameters of higher education [Electronic resource] // Knowledge. Understanding. Skill. Information humanitarian portal. 2004. URL: http:// www. zpu-journal.ru/ (date of access: 02.21.2011).

6. Analysis of the assessment system of higher education in the world [Electronic resource] // Information and reference portal for supporting quality management systems. 2006. URL: http://www. quality.edu.ru/ (date of access: 02/10/2011).

7. Alferov Yu.S. Monitoring the development of education in the world // Pedagogy. 2008. No. 7. P. 73-84.

8. Dzhurinsky A.N. Development of education in the modern world. M.: Publishing center "Academy", 2006. 176 p.

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We are here in website understood why all Japanese are such brilliant and unique people. And all because, it turns out, they have an impossibly cool education system. See for yourself.

First manners - then knowledge

Japanese schoolchildren do not take exams until the 4th grade (when they are 10 years old), only writing short independent ones. It is believed that in the first three years of study, academic knowledge is not the most important thing. The emphasis is on education: children are taught respect for other people and animals, generosity, empathy, the search for truth, self-control and respect for nature.

The start of the school year is April 1

When children graduate in most countries, the Japanese celebrate theirs on September 1st. N The beginning of the year coincides with one of the most beautiful phenomena - cherry blossoms. This is how they tune in to a sublime and serious mood. The academic year consists of three trimesters: from April 1 to July 20, from September 1 to December 26 and from January 7 to March 25. Thus, the Japanese rest for 6 weeks during the summer holidays and 2 weeks each in winter and spring.

There are no cleaners in Japanese schools; the children clean the rooms themselves

Each class takes turns cleaning classrooms, hallways, and even toilets. This is how children learn to work in a team and help each other from an early age. Besides, after students have spent so much time and effort cleaning, they are unlikely to want to litter. This teaches them respect for their work, as well as the work of other people, and respect for the environment.

Schools prepare only standardized lunches, which children eat in class with other students.

In primary and secondary schools, special lunches are prepared for children, the menu of which is developed not only by chefs, but also by medical workers, so that the food is as healthy and nutritious as possible. All classmates have lunch with the teacher in the office. In such an informal setting, they communicate more and build friendly relationships.

Continuing education is extremely popular

Already in the elementary grades, children begin to attend private and preparatory schools in order to get into a good middle and then high school. Classes in such places are held in the evenings, and in Japan it is a very typical phenomenon that at 21.00 public transport is filled with children who are rushing home after extra lessons. They study even on Sundays and during holidays, given that the average school day lasts from 6 to 8 hours. It is not surprising that, according to statistics, there are almost no repeaters in Japan.

In addition to regular lessons, schoolchildren are taught the art of Japanese calligraphy and poetry

The principle of Japanese calligraphy, or shodo, is very simple: a bamboo brush is dipped in ink and characters are drawn on rice paper with smooth strokes. In Japan, shodo is valued no less than ordinary painting. And haiku is a national form of poetry that succinctly presents nature and man as a single whole. Both items reflect one of the principles of oriental aesthetics - the relationship between the simple and the elegant. Classes teach children to appreciate and respect their culture with its age-old traditions.

All schoolchildren must wear a uniform

From middle school onwards, every student is required to wear a uniform. Many schools have their own uniform, but traditionally it is military-style clothing for boys, and sailor suits for girls. PThe rule is intended to discipline students, since the clothes themselves create a working mood. Also, the same uniform helps to unite classmates.