How Does its Education Affect the Roles of Japanese Internationally?
The Roles of Entrance Exams in Japan
What is "Juken"?
A major part of the Japanese education system is based on "Juken". These are entrance examinations which most students have to take for junior high, high school, and University. The major Juken is considered the one for Universities, and is sometimes referred to as "Juken Jigoku", which means entrance examination hell. Juken is not compulsory if the student does not change institutions. These types of schools are called the elevator systems. If a student fails to pass the Juken, they become a "rounin", which originally indicated a master less samurai. The student would attend other preparatory schools just to prepare for the next year's Juken. Since Juken acts as a primary sorting system for students' future careers, this one crucial examination can affect the rest of the student’s life.
The effect of Juken on Students
The greatest problem in Japanese Education is the system itself. Japanese culture plays a large role in affecting the way students are treated. Pressure and the constant load of work forced on to students take away their creativity and imagination. Schools and most parents do not encourage unconventionality, creativity, or uniqueness. The concept of Juken itself puts numbers as a number one priority, instead of the differences of each individual. Schools and universities do not consider any community and volunteer activities, home education, or learning styles when recruiting students. These out of school activities and personality differences are considered useless.
The short film on the left is titled "Children". It is a self-produced work by a group of Japanese students, portraying the reality of the education system.
