Dateline: 06/07/97

Nine years: six in elementary school, and three in junior high school, make up compulsory education in Japan. This system was adopted from the American system after W.W.II. Each year consists of a three term system (summer, winter, and spring) that begins in April. Each term is marked by a vacation period.

Unlike North American high schools, Japanese classes remain in one  class room to take all classes unless they require practical training (e.g. laboratory work). Even lunch, which is provided in elementary and Junior high school, is eaten in the same room where classes are held. One will also notice in Japan, that the majority of young students wear  uniforms to school. The young boys resemble military cadets with their  uniformly cropped hair.

A high level of homogeneity and a high level of education is maintain in Japan by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry supervises textbooks, curriculum, and maintains the same level of education throughout the country

Here is a look at the different ages and the availability of education in Japan.

Age:

 3 - Kindergarten

 6 - Elementary school

12 - Junior high school

15 - High school. A student may at this point finish high school, enter a technical college, special training college or miscellaneous school.

18 - Technical school, University, Junior college, Special training college, Miscellaneous school. Any one of these may be pursued at this point.

21 - University, Junior college, Special training college, Miscellaneous school. A student will probably be enrolled in on of these.
   
24 - Begin Graduate school or continue with University, junior college, special training college, miscellaneous school.

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