chi toku tai 知 徳 体

©Ministry of , Culture, Sports, and Technology- Characteristics of Education in Japan Contents

Education that takes a holistic approach is provided by having teachers actively engage with children

Solid academic ability, Solid academic ability High scholastic outcomes in PISA Quality Education for All richness in mind, healthy Competency to solidly learn Elementary and Rate of advancement the basics; take the initiative body Ranking Results of 2015 PISA junior high school to high school P.4 to find issues, learn, and think; 1/35 Ranking chi (Points) 2/72 1/35 decide and act independently; 540 5/72 A day in elementary school and to better solve problems Japan (example) 知 Ranking Japan Compulsory 6/35 8/72 education

Competencies 500 for living Japan toku tai 0 OECD OECD Average Average OECD Richness in mind Healthy body Average P.6 Self-discipline, cooperation 徳 体 Health and physical fitness

with others, kindness to to live actively Scientific literacy Reading comprehension Mathematical literacy Educational contents 1 others, ability to be moved n/35: Ranking among OECD countries participating in PISA 2015 Dropout rate of n/72: Ranking among all countries and economies participating in PISA 2015 high school students

National Curriculum Standards Textbooks Based on the School Education Act, Japan’s Textbooks are written and edited by P.8 national government sets the national curriculum private publishers based on the National standards for all schools in order to maintain Curriculum Standards. Municipal Boards of Education Educational contents 2 definite levels of education and ensure equal They are provided free-of-charge for all opportunities for quality education for all. elementary and junior high school students. Implementing educational administration that reflects the wishes and actual circumstances of the local residents ･Establishment and operation of schools. ･Implementation of educational programs.

P.10 Prefectural Boards of Education Teachers Implementing educational administration over a broad area

･Establishment of standards for the . ･Implementation of programs needing broad-area processing and management of facilities and others. ･Support and related measures for . ･Assignment of the teachers and payment of their remuneration.

National Government P.10 Serving to maintain and enhance national standards of education to ensure that equal education can be provided anywhere in the country Schools existing ･Establishment of the basic educational system framework. within the community ･Establishment of national standards, etc. (e.g., setting standards for establishing schools, establishing standards for obtaining a teaching certificate, establishing standards for class organization and fixed number of faculty members.). ･Support to local public bodies for preparing educational conditions. ･Sharing a third of teachers’ remuneration paid by the Local Prefectural Government.

©Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan A day in elementary school(example)

* The following examples are typical ones. There are some differences between schools regarding weekly scheduling, etc. school (example) A day in elementary

Children go to school via the “school route.” When children arrive at school, they put their There is a recess between classes and lessons, and children can spend their time playing Almost all of Japan's schools set aside a time when children cooperate to clean the school. People of the community watch over the learning tools in their desk drawer and outside on the playground, reading in the classroom etc. The children are assigned shifts to clean certain areas. They clean not only the classrooms children on the school route to ensure that put their school bag in the rack. that they use but also the hallways and lavatories in turns. Cleaning is conducted as a part of children can walk to school safe and sound. education.

8:00 13:10-13:40 13:40-13:55 Educational contents 1 Go to school Lunch break Cleaning

8:45-9:30 10:45-11:30 14:55-14:40 1st period: 3rd period: 6th period: Foreign Languages

10-minute recess 10-minute recess Educational contents 2

20-minute recess 10-minute recess

9:40-10:25 11:40-12:25 14:00-14:45 15:40 2nd period: Moral Education 4th period: Science 5th period: Arithmetic After-school

8:20-8:30 12:25-13:10

Morning meeting Lunch Teachers

An example of the Nicchoku duties Roles of school lunches Duties of the Nicchoku Japanese schools provide delicious, Turn on the lights nutritionally balanced lunches. School lunches contribute to the sound Open the windows within the community Schools existing physical and mental development of children ①Everyone prepares. Lead morning greetings and also have the important role of fostering in children proper understanding and Shut the windows appropriate decision-making concerning food. Turn off the lights Menu example Food and nutrition Rice or bread is served with a main Nicchoku is one of the classroom duties (“Toban”) children are assigned. education at lunch Because different children are given the duty each day, the name of the dish of fish or meat, a side dish of time ②Enjoy lunch with friends child on duty for that day is clearly written on the blackboard. All of the vegetables, soup and milk. children participate in their class as a member of the group to make their school life better. Special considerations are also made ③Everyone tidies up. such as using local ingredients and making traditional dishes.

©Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan Educational contents 1

*The Following examples are typical ones, there are some differences between schools and regions. Japanese Language Living Environment Studies Moral Education Aims to develop in children the competencies To explain how I felt Moral education is implemented throughout through specific activities and experiences to all educational activities, with the moral about the story I have live full and independent lives. education class is the primary period. read, I’m describing To develop students’ attitude for thinking about Each of us has our right and the obligation to live together in our the scenes and writing moral problems by sincerely addressing society. school (example) A day in elementary I’ve noticed my growth by connecting a down my impressions values, including when diverse values are in The qualification or abilities that allow a person morning glory’s growth with my caring to do or to request other people to do certain of them. conflict, in a way that is appropriate for the things based on the person’s will at the person’s activity. students’ stage of development and without discretion. pushing any particular set of values. (Fuzoku Niigata Elementary School attached to Faculty The things that a person has to do or cannot do of Education Niigata ) ◦5th, 6th grades of elementary school depending on the person’s status. “What are rights and obligations?” Fulfilling obligations while still having rights. What will happen if someone only claims his/her right unilaterally and does not assume his/her Example of 2nd graders obligations, or if someone is forced to assume

only the obligation? Educational contents 1 Aims to develop in children the competencies to properly Would our life and society function well?

express and accurately comprehend the Japanese language, Write down what you thought or learned about the rights and the obligations. through speaking, listening, writing and reading. Class Schedule (Nishime Elementary School, Yurihonjo City) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Morning Morning Morning Morning Morning 8:10-8:20 Study Reading Study Reading Study We all have the right to live in a better society. Physical Education Morning Meeting We all have the obligation to make a better society. Japanese Physical Japanese Living Japanese 8:45-9:30 1 Environment Language Studies Language Educational contents 2 Living Japanese Japanese 9:40-10:25 2 Environment Arithmetic Arithmetic Studies Language Language Recess Music Aims to develop in children the 10:45-11:30 3 Arithmetic Music Art and Physical Music Handicraft Education competencies for expressing and and Japanese Japanese appreciating creatively, through 11:40-12:25 4 Language Arithmetic Handicraft Language Language singing, playing instruments, creating musical pieces and listening to music. Aims to develop in children the competencies to 12:25-13:55 Lunch / Lunch break / Cleaning Also, aims to encourage children to maintain and improve their mental and physical

With ICT devices, we discuss Living enjoy music. Teachers health for life, and to realize a rich lifelong sporting Moral Environment Japanese Physical each other's movements 14:00-14:45 5 Education Language Arithmetic Education life. Specifically, to learn health and various activities Studies and try to improve our We are playing recorders in such as physical fitness, apparatus gymnastics, track performance. Classroom 14:55-15:40 6 Activities ensemble with emotion and and field, swimming, ball games and expressive intention, while listening to activities. Closing Meeting others and the accompaniment. (Saijo Elementary School, Higashihiroshima City)

(Kouyama Elementary School, Nerima Ward) within the community Schools existing Art and Handicraft Arithmetic Aims to develop in children the competencies for expressing and appreciating creatively, through creating something on the basis of what has occurred to Aims to help children acquire basic and fundamental them when looking at and touching materials, expressing what they have felt knowledge and skills regarding numbers, quantities or imagined in the form of drawings, paintings, three-dimensional artifacts and geometrical figures, and to develop in children the or other kinds of handicraft, and looking at their own work and works of art. competencies to think and express matters of Also, aims to encourage children to enjoy creating something. everyday life with good perspectives and logic.

We are making a large picture in collaboration with friends, while looking at and discussing By using ICT devices, I can quickly compare my each other’s paintings. answer or idea with others’.

(Narihira Elementary School, Sumida Ward) (Kasuga Gakuen Compulsory Education School City)

©Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan Educational contents 2

*The following examples are typical ones. There are some differences between schools and regions. Example 2 Example 1 Creating a disaster preparedness map Example 3 Learning about their relationship Thinking about the importance with society and the local community of peace and human rights school (example) A day in elementary

Prepare a map by filling in the Survey the site information that was found Present the map

By interconnecting the knowledge, skills and so on gained in each subject, the children create a disaster preparedness map based on their own surveys and ideas, and make a presentation of Educational contents 1 the map. They can learn deeply through such exploratory activities. (Example at Kochi Prefecture)

By researching their school The Period for Integrated Studies trip destination, children think Through experiences gained with the cooperation of the community, about war and peace, share Integrated studies are cross-curricular studies in which they develop problem-solving activities. children learn about their relationship with society and the local views through discussions Children can learn to identify and explore problems of society and life by themselves. community, such as the Nebuta tradition and culture. and other activities on what (Example at Uramachi Elementary School, Aomori City) Each school decides what subject to be explored. they can do in the future, and Educational contents 2 think about the importance of peace and human rights. Special Activities (“Tokkatsu”) (Example at Aimi Elementary School, Nanbu Town) Classroom activities The period of Special Activities (“Tokkatsu”) provides educational activities in which the school and classrooms are considered as “societies”. With the classroom forming a unit, children undertake Through group activities conducted there, independent and practical attitudes are cultivated in activities that improve and enhance their lives in children to enable them to build better group life and make better personal selves. Club activities class and school and help address the various challenges that exist for them. In clubs for children with similar interests Examples that go beyond the school grade, classroom Student council activities or subject, children can deepen interaction 1. Make the classroom's organization and decide on the division of duties. Discuss ways to Teachers solve issues that arise when implementing the respective duties and put them into practice. To enrich and improve children’s school lives, all the students participate in a mixed-age group and pursue common in the various student council activities. interests and pastimes. 2. Deepen understanding on current issues facing students such as lifestyle habits and the concerns of adolescence, discuss how they can be solved and solutions to put into practice. Examples Examples 3. Discuss ways for self-realization, such as the importance of learning and In order to improve and develop school activities, student councils divide and lead activities within the school, such as beautifying the Volleyball club, Cooking club, Computer club, Brass band club, working, and what future course should be taken, and make decisions. school environment, broadcasting school life programs, and managing the library work, as well as partially managing school events. Basketball club, Science club

Examples within the community Schools existing School events (annual schedule) 1. Ceremonies 2. Cultural events Health and safety and 4. Outings and overnight trips 5. Work and volunteer events 3. physical education events Using the entire school or grade as a unit, hands-on activities are conducted to order and Entrance ceremony Culture festival Evacuation drills School trips Volunteer activities, etc. Graduation ceremony, etc. Music festival, etc. Athletic meets, etc. Group overnight trips, etc. change school life, and to help enhance and develop it. Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring Cultural Graduation Performances Opening Ceremony Ceremony Closing Entrance Ceremony Ceremony Athletic Meet Ski lessons Winter Vacation Spring Vacation

(Example at Sakai Elementary School, Chikuhoku Village)

©Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan Schools existing Teachers within the community

Schools, families and local communities work together on a broad range of activities so that the entire society can work to develop the children. Teachers play a significant role in the well-rounded education For example, local residents support schools, including providing after-school and Saturday learning/experiential in Japan. A notable feature of teachers in Japan is that programs, by having parents and local residents help to run schools and by having community coordinators set up they take care of students in an overall fashion. They teach networks connecting schools and their local communities. subjects, provide student guidance, supervise club activities and support various school events. To assure the quality and

ability of teachers, training and development are provided school (example) A day in elementary throughout their careers.

Initial teacher In general, prospective teachers must complete teacher training courses at or colleges to acquire the relevant teaching certificates. Diverse programs by Learning support education Educational contents 1 local residents from local residents Boards of education assess teacher candidates through a selection process Kodaira City runs programs of Shinagawa Ward has local interaction with local residents residents providing after-school Employment consisting of exams, interviews and demonstration lessons, to employ eligible after-school and during recesses. learning support programs. teachers. Partnering with sports Saturday experiential organizations activities Boards of education provide training and development courses to teachers Hamakawa Elementary Nishio City implements Saturday School, Shinagawa Ward, programs at local community Training and according to their career stage and experience. Also, teachers should renew School has a partnership agreement education centers such as sado (chado) tea development their certificates every 10 years by taking courses at universities or colleges.

with organizations in the ceremony, with local residents Educational contents 2 Japan Professional Football serving as instructors at Kodomo League to teach children the Daigaku (Child University). joy of sports.

Sidebar: Lesson Study is a key method of Japanese educational culture to enhance teachers' teaching skills. Teachers observe each other's classes, analyzing the lesson plans and outcomes. After the observation,

they discuss the effects and issues of the lesson. Throughout the lesson study, teachers can improve their Children Teachers lessons and build productive relationships with each other. Social Home Teachers observe each education education Flow of Lesson Study other's classes, and then give feedback. Study of educational materials within the community

Utilizing Community School Partnerships between Schools existing Demonstration lesson “School Management Council teachers, and local residents System” Joetsu City has permanent Aiming for social inclusion community coordinators to connect schools with the Discussion after the lesson Mitsuke Special Needs School, Mitsuke City, has organizations local communities and even a involved with children with community partnership room inside disabilities and schools hold the schools. The coordinators careful deliberations and give advice to teachers on school collaborations, with a focus on Guest teacher classes educational activities in partnership discussing how to run schools Higashi Elementary School, Hadano with local communities. with the aim of realizing a society City, invites local residents to teach of inclusion. The school also the history of the area in which the builds visible networks. students live.

©Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan EDU-Port Japan