Education system in Japan - Essay Example

? Education System in Japan Education System in Japan – Preparing for Social roles The education system possesses great importance in the Japan because it has played vital role in determining the dimensions of economic and social progression of the country. Japan always strives to catch the western standards in science and education and for this purpose special emphasis has been given to the educational policies in the country (Hendry, 1987). Earlier the French and German models of educations were used for bringing reforms in the Japanese education systems. However, after the Second World War some special reforms were introduced into the system following the patterns of American education after which there were some major changes occurred within the Japanese education system. It has been regarded that the economic recovery and development of Japan became possible due to the effective management and policies of education system that not only emphasize upon providing formal education to the students but also focus upon developing and polishing their socializing skills (Rebecca and Gerald, 2000). Japan is among the world best countries having the population with 100% enrolment in the compulsory classes due to which the illiteracy rate is zero in Japan. The education system of Japan follows the Japanese characteristics of group behaviour and heavily insists upon group interaction and peer connections. Unlike American education system Japan stresses upon controlled individual responsibility by observing the group rules. It is unveiled that the teaching culture in Japan significantly differs from the western countries. The Japanese education system has a different approach towards preparing the students to take place in the wider society. The education system widely insists upon maintaining cooperative relationship with the peers, to follow the routine of the school and to give critical importance to punctuality (Peak, 1992). Right from the beginning the students are trained to become responsible. They learn to focus upon management of certain tasks starting from desks cleaning and classroom floors scrubbing. The education specifically insists upon developing loyalty with the social groups like class, sports teams, friends, after school circles etc. due to focus upon the maintaining strong social relationship the students become able to act as effective leaders in their future lives. They learn to play the roles of leaders as well as subordinates because their organization and socializing skills are well developed during their school life by performing the roles of monitors, class chairperson and lunchtime etc. The socializing skills of the students are further developed through different activities and events like class meetings and group discussions. Through these activities the public speaking skills of the students are polished and they become able to perform active role in their future lives. As the students move from the school to higher education they are further trained to take part is wider society through the development and refinement of their socializing skills. The student school committees are generally established to train them about the organized and disciplined hierarchical work (Sugimoto, 1997). During the high school years the peer group culture reached its peak and the students are trained to become active members of the school committees, groups and class as well as the society. At this stage, they have been taught to learn about nature and ranking of high school because it has obvious impact upon their professional careers and future. The students are also prepared for different destinations so that they become able to adjust them is different type of circumstances and situation. The education system also insists upon fostering consensus and harmonious nature within the Japanese society for which the societal problems are also addressed by creating caring environment within the schools and other educational institutions (Hendry, 1987). The Japanese education system supports social harmony as it is based upon the philosophy that education must be used as a mean of promoting social awareness and congruence. The education system has been designed in a manner that the students could get moral education classes along with the formal education so that they become able to resolve their disputes at their own and could also become able to develop and maintain social contacts with different people and groups (Goodman, 1990). The education system focuses upon Japanese, arithmetic, science, social studies and physical education but along with these integrated activities (sogo katsudo) is also used to enhance the learning experience of the students. The students are often put to work in groups so that they could learn group communication and social interaction means (Peak, 1989). As the students move towards the higher level of education the training regarding the social interaction, management and organization also becomes more frequent and professional so that they could be able to become a responsible part of the Japanese workforce. Effectiveness of System It is unveiled from the above description of Japanese education system that the system gives special attention towards the development of the social interaction skills. The education system has been developed in a manner that the students could be provided with maximum opportunities of getting the training of performing active role in the society. The education system enables the students to get their space in the wider society. The education system teaches about the management, group work, social interaction and organization so that the students could learn about moving and working in groups. From the early education to higher education the students are trained to become useful and active member of society using different strategies and activities. Ultimately, it becomes possible for the students to develop effective leadership, coordination and social interaction skills that are necessary for moving in the wider society. Hence, the entire discussion could be sum up with the conclusion that the Japanese education system places the socializing skills on the top agenda. The system has adopted several effective policies and plans to make students learn about the usefulness of developing and maintaining social contacts at academic and non-academic levels. As a result, the Japanese students tend to play an active and effective role in the society. They used to be well organized, responsible and well versed with discipline and interaction skills and ultimately they successfully develop social relations with the people of different cultural groups as well. This training of Japanese educational system is very effective in the scenario of increased cross border activities. The students now have to interact and move within the wide social circles due to the technology advancements. In their professional lives also they found it very easy to adjust in the new situations and building social terms with people of different groups because they learn to be socialized right from the early stages of education. Hence, it is revealed that the Japanese education policy has proved its effectiveness by training students to get the space in the wider society because the system generates the attributes of excellent communication and interaction skills, management, organization and responsibility among the students. Word Count: 1142 References Goodman, R. (1990). Japan’s ‘International Youth,’ The Emergence of a New Class of Schoolchildren. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Hendry, J. (1987). Understanding Japanese Society. London: Nissan Institute. Peak, L. (1992). Learning to Go to School in Japan: The Transition from Home to Preschool Life. Berkeley: University of California Press. Peak, L. (1989)."Learning to Become Part of the Group: The Japanese Child's Transition to Preschool Life, Journal of Japanese Studies 15, No. 1, Winter 1989, pp93-123 Rebecca E. F. and Gerald K. L. (2000). Intense Years: How Japanese Adolescents Balance School, Family, and Friends. New York City: Routledge Falmer Sugimoto, Y. (1997). An Introduction to Japanese Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Read More