by Hideaki Shibuya

1. Asia-Pacific Leaders Forum on Secondary Education
(March 25th 2008 The Taj
Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, India)
How School Reforms
Promote New Skills
in Japan
Hideaki SHIBUYA
(Tokyo Gakugei University)

2. A) Background of Secondary
School Reforms
1. ‘Universal’ Secondary Education
2. Decreasing Young Population
3. Ｃｈａｎｇｉｎｇ Lifestyles of Youths
4. Globalization of Society

3. [Background]
1. ‘Universal’ Secondary Education
Lower Secondary School (grade 7-9)

・ Compulsory education
・ Free Education (tuition fee of government schools and text books)
・ Enrollment ratio 99.93% (2005)
・ Long absentees 3.48% (2004)
Upper Secondary School (grade 10-12)

・ Students enrolled in government schools 70% Private 30%
・ Advancement rate 97.7% (2006)
・ Entrance Examination
Upper Secondary School Certificate is minimum
qualification for job opportunities.

4. [Background]
2. Decreasing Young Population
Birth rate

total fertility rate 1.32(2006),1.26(2005),1.29(2004),
1.36(2000), 1.57(1989)
USA 2.05(2004), France 1.94(2005), Sweden 1.77 (2005),
Korea 1.08(2005)
Advancement rate to universities

52.3%(2006)
Number of upper secondary school graduates who want to study in
universities become almost equal to the total capacity of universities.

5. [Background]
3. Ｃｈａｎｇｉｎｇ Lifestyles of
Youths
Polarization of Students

・ Students studying hard towards prestigious universities
・ Students not studying outside of schools
‘Freeter’, Working Poor

・’ Freeter’= Free(English)+Albeit(German)+er
Those who are working at part-time jobs, and not able to have a
fulltime and permanent job.
・ More than 2 millions ‘Freeters’ among 15 to 34 years (2005)
/ 1 million in 1992, and 500,000 in 1982

6. [Background]
4. Globalization of Society
Migrating Labor and Population

・ International and multicultural community in Japanese society (Brazil,
Peru, China, Korea, ・・・・・）
・ Understanding, communication, living together
Quality Human Resources in a Global

Society
・ Language Ability(monolingual →bilingual, multulingual)
・ Science and Technology

7. B) Secondary School Reforms
Variety and Flexibility of Secondary
1
Education
Linkages between Schools and World of
2
Work or Community
Development of Promotion of Abilities of
3
the Top-class Students

8. [Reforms]
1 Variety and Flexibility of Secondary
Education(1)
General Education Course

Ordinary Course /Course of Preparation for University / Special Course
(Foreign Language, ICT, Arts and Craft) /
Specialized Education Course

Vocational Education Course(Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, Fishery,
Homemaking, Welfare, etc.)
Other Specialized Course(Arts, International Education, Sports and physical
education, Science and Technology, etc)
Comprehensive Course

General + Vocational

9. [Reforms]
1 Variety and Flexibility of Secondary
Education(2)
Secondary School

6years<Lower+ Upper>
‘Challenge’ School

Tri-shift- system, for long- absentees or drop-outs
‘Try Net’ School

Online Learning
‘Support School’

Non- formal Education preparing for Examination Qualifying Equivalence of

Completion of Upper Secondary School

10. [Reforms]
2 Linkages between Schools and World
of Work or Community
Dual System

Combination of school education and vocational training in firms
Internship

Not vocational training, but work experience
Voluntary Work in Community

Contribution to and participation in community activities

11. [Reforms]
3 Development of Promotion of Abilities
of the Top-class Students
Leading and Competitive Human

Resources for Development in the Era of
Globalization
Super Science High Schools (SSH)

Super English Language High Schools (SELHi)

ICT Education


12. Consideration — What are New
Skills and Why ?
Competitive Skills and/or Cooperative

Skills
 Universal Skills for All Students and/or
Skills based on Specific Abilities or Needs
of Students
 Skills and Values, Skills and Attitudes