EduCareer StaffBlog"Rinjin Blog" | "EduCareer"Supporting your career in English teaching in the Japanese school system

Japanese Schools Switching to Semester System

2010/05/13

People new to teaching in Japan are often surprised at how little time Japanese students actually spend in class. Compared to the west, at least, there seem to be endless ceremonies, assemblies, club demonstrations, and school festivals, each with accompanying extra classes missed for practice and preparation. While this might account for the fact that Japanese students generally have a less jaded view of school than their western counterparts (a survey found only 30% of students reported being bored with school in Japan, compared to 60% in the US and UK), it means there is a lot of actual study time being missed. And with the Education Ministry upping its requirements, many schools are switching to the semester system to try and save class hours. Having two terms instead of three means having less opening and closing ceremonies, and the time spent prepping for those can be used prepping students for exams instead-according to the Yomiuri Shinbun, this can mean up to 15 hours of class time saved. As of last year almost a quarter of elementary and junior high schools were on the semester system, compared to just 10% in 2004. With pressure to toughen education from the ministry increasing, it's possible this number will double again in the next few years.

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