Japan Series 日本系列 15 | The Japanese Education System 日本的教育制度
▲Click above to subscribe 点击上方蓝字关注我们▲
Education is undoubtedly a basic pillar of human development all over the world. Every country has its own way of educating and raising children in order to become part of its own unique culture, and Japan's education system is no exception. Japan is one of the countries with the highest level of education in the world. The enrollment rate of compulsory education is 100%, and the illiteracy rate is zero. Although it is not compulsory education, the National High School (Koukou 高校) enrollment rate is over 96%, and the urban enrollment rate is close to 100%. About 46% of high school graduates go to university or college.
教育无疑是全世界人类发展的一个基本支柱。每个国家都有自己的教育和抚养孩子的方法，以便成为自己独特文化的一部分，日本的教育体系也不例外。日本是世界上受教育程度最高的国家之一，义务教育阶段的入学率为100%，文盲率为零。虽然不是义务教育，但全国高中《koukou高校》入学率超过96%，城市入学率接近100%。大约46%的高中毕业生上大学或大专。
School is typically divided into five cycles:
学校通常分为五个大阶段：
Yōchien (幼稚園, Nursery school) from 3 to 6 years old.
Shōgakkō (小学, Elementary school) from 6 to 12.
Chūgakkō (中学, Middle School) from 12 to 15.
Kōkō (高校, High school) from 15 to 18.
Daigaku (大学, University) or Senmongakkō (専 門 学校, Vocational school) in general with a duration of 2 to 4 years.
幼儿园，三岁到六岁。
小学，六点到十二岁。
中学，12到15岁。
高中，15-18岁。
Daigaku（大学）或Senmongak（职业学校），一般为期2至4年。
The Japanese educational system was reformed after World War II. The old 6-5-3-3 system was changed to a 6-3-3-4 system (6 years of elementary school, 3 years of junior high school, 3 years of senior high school and 4 years of University) with reference to the American system. The gimukyoiku 義務教育 (compulsory education) time period is 9 years, 6 in shougakkou 小学校 (elementary school) and 3 in chuugakkou 中学校 (junior high school).
二战后，日本的教育体制进行了改革。战前的6-5-3-3体制参照美国体制改为6-3-3-4体制（小学6年，初中3年，高中3年，大学4年）。义务教育学制为9年，小学6年，初中为3年。
School exchanges during Japan Educational Travel are mainly implemented in junior high and high schools. For physically or mentally challenged students, there is a system called “Special Needs Education” to support special students to develop their self-reliance and thus enhance their social participation.
日本教育旅行期间的学校交流主要在初中和高中进行。对于身体或智力残疾的学生，有一个称为“特殊教育”的系统来支持特殊学生发展自立能力，从而增强他们的社会参与。
The Ministry of Education closely supervises curriculum, textbooks, and classes and maintains a uniform level of education throughout the country. As a result, a high standard of education is possible.
教育部密切监督课程、教科书和班级，并在全国保持统一的教育水平。因此，高标准的教育是可能的。
Student life 学生生活
Most schools operate on a three-term system with the new year starting in April. The modern educational system started in 1872 and is modeled after the French school system, which begins in April. The fiscal year in Japan also begins in April and ends in March of the following year, which is more convenient in many aspects. April is the height of spring when cherry blossoms (the most loved flower of the Japanese!) bloom and the most suitable time for a new start in Japan. This difference in the school-year system causes some inconvenience to students who wish to study abroad in the U.S. A half-year is wasted waiting to get in and often another year is wasted when coming back to the Japanese university system and having to repeat a year.
大多数学校实行三学期制，新年从四月份开始。现代教育制度始于1872年，并仿效法国学校制度，该制度始于4月。日本的财政年度也从4月开始，到次年3月结束，在很多方面都比较方便。四月是樱花盛开的春天（日本人最爱的花！），在日本最适合重新开始。这种学年制上的差异给一些想留学的学生带来了一些不便，比如说如果要去美国留学会有半年的时间浪费在等待入学上，而在回到日本大学系统不得不重复一年的时间时，往往又浪费了一年时间。
Except for the lower grade of primary school, the average school day is 6 hours, which is one of the longest in the world. Even after school, children have drills and other homework to keep them busy. Summer vacation is 6 weeks, winter vacation and spring vacation are about 2 weeks each and these holidays often have homework. Each class has its own fixed classroom, where students learn all courses except practical training and laboratory work. During primary education, in most cases, one teacher teaches all subjects in each class. Due to the rapid growth of population after World War II, the number of students in a typical primary school or junior high school class once exceeded 50, but now it is under 40. In public primary and secondary schools, school lunches (kyuushoku 給食) are served on standard menus and in classrooms. Almost all junior high schools require students to wear uniforms (seifuku 制服)..
除小学低年级外，平日平均上学时间为6小时，是世界上上学时间最长的学校之一。即使放学后，孩子们也有操练和其他家庭作业让他们忙个不停。暑假为6周，寒假和春假各约2周。这些假期经常有家庭作业。每一个班级都有自己的固定教室，学生在那里学习除实践训练和实验室工作以外的所有课程。在初等教育期间，在大多数情况下，一名教师在每一个班级教授所有科目。由于二战后人口的迅速增长，一个典型的小学或初中班的学生人数一度超过50人，但现在却控制在40人以下。在公立小学和初中，学校午餐（kyuushoku給食）在标准菜单上提供，在教室里吃。几乎所有的初中都要求学生穿校服。
Public schools in Japan have classes five days a week, from Monday to Friday. There are also schools that have classes on Saturday. In junior high and high schools, there are six class periods each day, typically lasting 50 minutes for each. After classes, students clean the classrooms in shifts and then start their club activities. There are a variety of clubs such as cultural and sports ones. Each school has a principal, a vice-principal, teachers, a school nurse, and other administrative staff.
日本公立学校每周有五天上课，从周一到周五。还有一些学校周六上课。在初中和高中，每天有六节课，每节课通常持续50分钟。课后，学生们轮流打扫教室，然后开始他们的俱乐部活动。有各种各样的俱乐部，如文化和体育俱乐部。每所学校都有校长、副校长、教师、学校护士和其他行政人员。
As the chief executive, the principal assumes all responsibilities of the school, including the courses provided and related administrative work. The vice-principal supports the principal to manage the administrative affairs of the school and to be in charge of student’s educational activities and curriculum as well. Furthermore, in order to ensure the school’s smooth operation, teachers take on various responsibilities, such as taking care of educational activities, students’ school life, and employment guidance for students after graduation. Many schools also establish their own committees, for example, an International Exchange Promotion Committee, and others.
校长作为行政长官，承担学校的一切责任，包括所提供的课程和有关的行政工作。副校长支持校长管理学校的行政事务，并负责学生的教育活动和课程。此外，为了保证学校的顺利运转，教师承担着各种责任，如照顾教育活动、学生的学校生活、学生毕业后的就业指导等。许多学校也设立了自己的委员会，例如国际交流促进委员会和其他委员会。
The level of Japanese education is high even by world standards. In OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) aimed at fifteen-year-olds, Japanese students recorded high levels of achievement, particularly in science-related areas. Educational activities outside of school also flourish, and programs leading to advanced education are implemented. English is a compulsory subject in junior high and high schools. There are also elementary schools that introduce English education from intermediate grade classes. In some high schools, apart from English, students are also allowed to take courses in Chinese, Korean, French.
日本的教育水平即使以世界标准衡量也很高。在经合组织针对15岁儿童的国际学生评估方案（PISA）中，日本学生取得了很高的成绩，特别是在与科学有关的领域。校外教育活动也蓬勃发展，实施先进教育计划。英语是初中和高中的必修课。也有小学从中级班引进英语教育。在一些高中，除了英语外，学生还可以选修汉语、韩语、法语课程。
Student clubs are a characteristic part in Japan’s school education. Under teachers’ guidance, students with the same interests in sports, cultural activities, or fields of study voluntarily gather together after classes and on days off. There are also numerous student clubs revolving around Japanese traditional sports and culture, such as judo, kendo (Japanese swordsmanship), sado (Japanese tea ceremony), kado (Japanese flower arrangement), shodo (Japanese calligraphy), etc. Club activities also provide students with the chance to participate in school exchange and friendly matches. Those enrolled in public schools (until chūgakkō) do not pay registration or school material fees. Families pay secondary costs such as meals and school trips.
学生俱乐部是日本学校教育的一个特色部分。在教师的指导下，在体育、文化活动或学习领域有相同兴趣的学生在课后和休息日自愿聚集在一起。还有许多围绕日本传统体育和文化的学生俱乐部，如柔道、剑道、茶道、日本插花、日本书法等，俱乐部活动也为学生提供了参加学校交流和友谊赛的机会。在公立学校注册的学生（直到中学）不付注册费或学校材料费。他们只付其他的，如饭和学校安排的旅行。
Japanese elementary schools put an emphasis on morals and ethics education. Standard subjects such as mathematics, science, music, and physical education are of course taught, but morals are a separate subject complete with textbook and allocated time.
日本小学重视道德和伦理教育。当然，数学、科学、音乐和体育等标准科目都是教授的，但道德是一门独立的科目，有一本教科书和分配的时间。
Students wishing to move up into junior high schools, high schools, or universities, must pass grueling entrance exams. So grueling, in fact, that they’re dubbed exam hell (shiken jigoku, 試験地獄). These tests take an endless number of sleepless nights to study for, with students often sitting in cram schools after regular classes in order to try and get good results. Many students began studying for these exams during their second year of junior high school, which means about two years of studying just to get into the high school they sought after.
希望升入初中、高中或大学的学生必须通过超级难的入学考试。事实上，这些考试被称为地狱考试（shiken jigoku，試験地獄）。通过这些考试需要不眠之夜来学习，学生们经常在正常上课后上补习班以求取得好成绩。许多学生在初中二年级时就开始为这些考试而学习，这意味着大约两年的学习只是为了进入他们所追求的高中。
University is just as difficult. Selection requirements are often so difficult that only about 56% of students pass on their first try. Those who fail become ronin (samurai without a master, 浪人), and must study for an entire year on their own in order to try for next year’s test. As foreign companies enter Japan and bring in their own work cultures, the strict test-results-only standard is slowly morphing. Western culture, for example, looks at skills, experience, and personality on top of good schools. As these businesses enter Japanese society, the Japanese education system evolves.
入大学也同样困难。选拔要求往往很难，只有约56%的学生会在初试通过。那些不及格的人会成为浪人（没有大师的武士），为了参加下次的考试，他们必须自己学习一整年。随着外国公司进入日本并引进自己的工作文化，严格的考试成绩只有标准正在慢慢形成。例如，西方文化把技能、经验和个性比好学校和好好学习优先。随着这些企业进入日本社会，日本的教育体系也在不断演变。
There are no janitors in Japanese schools. Students divide into teams to tackle all manners of keeping their school clean. Some mop the floors (or team up with rags and run across the floor in lines), some wipe the chalkboards, some sweep, and others weed the gardens. It’s an amazing team-building activity, having the kids keep each other accountable for their own school and all working together to get it done.
日本学校没有清洁工。学生们分成小组用各种方式来保持学校的清洁。有的擦地板（或者用抹布排成一排跑过地板），有的擦黑板，有的打扫，还有的给花园除草。这是一项令人惊叹的团队建设活动，让孩子们互相为自己的学校负责，并共同努力完成任务。
Students attending cultural festival
There are huge festivals, and kids prepare for sports festivals, culture festivals, exhibitions, plays, and song celebrations. All of these practice times are usually done on the students’ own time after school.
有很多盛大的节日，孩子们为体育节、文化节、展览、戏剧和歌曲庆典做准备。所有这些练习时间通常都是学生放学后自己安排的。
Not everything is perfect, and though Japan boasts a solid educational system, it can revolve too narrowly around school and tests. This is known as gakureki shakai (学歴社会). Competition between students to enter high schools and universities is so high that kids sometimes spend a majority of their time studying in order to get on the right track for the right school. Sometimes students break down, burn out and drop out. Some face bullying for not getting into good schools. Some even withdraw from society, too taxed mentally to face the hurdles of life and education. Nowadays, though, much is being done in the way of reshaping a school system that puts less pressure on students.
并不是所有的事情都是完美的，尽管日本自诩有一个稳固的教育体系，但它可能过于狭隘地重视学校和考试。这被称为gakureki shakai(学历社会)。学生进入高中和大学的竞争如此激烈，以至于孩子们有时为了进入正确的学校而花大部分时间学习。有时学生会崩溃、筋疲力尽、辍学。有些人因为进不了好学校而受到欺凌。有些人甚至退出社会，精神负担过重，无法面对生活和教育的障碍。不过，如今，在重塑一个对学生压力较小的学校体系方面，已经做了很多工作。
In any case, the system must be doing something right. Japanese society has strong educational values that have created a very beautiful, intelligent society. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section~ Thanks for reading
无论如何，这制度必须有它带来的好处。日本社会具有强大的教育价值观，创造了一个非常美丽、智慧的社会。
Contributions will be appreciated！
欢迎投稿！
▲ QQ group
▲ Official account