EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM & PRACTICE IN JAPAN

2	“I Outline of Japanese School System”	Previous	Next	JAPANESE

	This figure shows a single-track school system in Japan. Fundamentally, the Japanese single-track school system is made up of elementary schools, lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools and universities (6- 3- 3- 4 years). This system was modified by introducing technical colleges in 1961 and comprehensive secondary schools in 1998, which increased people’s options and diversified the school system. However, this modification does not mean that the Japanese school system has become a dual system. As part of the above modification, unification of kindergartens as preschool educational institutions and nursery schools as child care institutions, and introduction of the option of skipping grades in post-compulsory educational institutions, are under discussion.