Abstract
The purpose of this article is to provide a brief analysis of the Japanese educational system and to give a somewhat detailed discussion of Japanese higher education. Its main conclusions are: although the bulk of higher education is catered for privately, the prestige institutions tend to be public ones; the character of the system as a whole seems to reflect Japanese society very clearly indeed since it supports high growth industries, reinforces the traditionally accepted distinction between the sexes, and determines both the structure of wages and salaries in general and its sex variance in particular; and that there are very serious problems currently confronting Japanese educationalists - these relate to the official inspection of textbooks, the emergence of anti-teacher violence within schools and the reduction in the size of the public subsidy to private education.
The authors are extremely grateful for helpful comments and suggestions from Margaret B. Sutherland, Professor of Education, University of Leeds and Dr. Penny Francks, specialist on modern Japanese history at the Department of Chinese Studies, University of Leeds. However, the usual disclaimer applies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
The Asahi, (1983), various dates.
Ichii, A. (1980). “Contemporary private universities and government subsidy,” Chuo-Hyoron Quarterly, no. 151, Chuo University, Tokyo, April.
Igeta, R., and Yasuda, Y. (eds.) (1982). A Consideration of Private Universities (Tokyo: Ohtsukishoten).
Japan's Federation of Private Universities (1983). For the Future of Japan: Government's Aid to Private Educational Institutions in Higher Education. Tokyo, July.
King, E. J. (1976). Other Schools and Ours: Comparative Studies for Today London: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Ministry of Education, Minister's Secretariat (various annual issues). The Report of Basic Investigation of Schools. Tokyo.
Ministry of Education, Minister's Secretariat (various issues) The Information. Tokyo.
Ministry of Labour (1982). Census of Wage Structure. Tokyo.
Statistics Bureau, Prime Minister's Office (1983). Statistical Handbook of Japan. Tokyo.
Sutherland, M. B. (1983). “Women in Japanese higher education,” The Reporter, no. 212, University of Leeds, England, 30 September.
UNESCO (1983). Statistical Yearbook. New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Ali M. El-Agraa is a Senior Lecturer in Economics, School of Economic Studies, University of Leeds, England and is the Visiting Professor in charge of International Economics and Middle Eastern Studies, Graduate School of International Relations, International University of Japan, Niigata for the period September 1984–August 1985. Akira Ichii is Professor of Economics, University of Chuo in Tokyo and is currently (April 1982–March 1984) a Visiting Fellow in the School of Economic Studies, University of Leeds.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
El-Agraa, A.M., Ichii, A. The Japanese education system with special emphasis on higher education. High Educ 14, 1–16 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00155650
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00155650