The Japan education system follows a 6-3-3-4 structure: six years of elementary school, three years of junior high, three years of high school, and four years of university. This article will explore the key stages of the Japan education system. Let’s dive into the basics!
If you’re interested in more information about daily life in Japan, please check the article below.
Chapter1: Overview of the Japanese Education System
The Japanese education system is commonly referred to as the 6-3-3-4 system (６－３－３－４制). It consists of:
- Junior School/小学校/Shogakusei (6 years)
- Junior High School/中学校/Chugakusei (3 years)
- High School/高等学校/Kotogakusei (3 years)
- University/大学/Daigaku (4 years)
Compulsory education in Japan covers elementary school and junior high school.
Pre-School Education
In terms of pre-school education, there are kindergartens/幼稚園/Youchien and nursery schools/保育園/Hoikuen. Nursery schools are managed by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (厚生労働省/Kousei Roudoushou) and cater to children from the age of 0. They provide care for longer hours compared to kindergartens. On the other hand, kindergartens are managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (文部科学省/Mombukagakushou) and generally accept children from the age of 3, with a basic attendance of 4 hours per day. The focus in kindergartens is on fostering both physical and mental development.
Elementary and Junior High Schools
In Japan, parents are required to send their children, aged 6 to 15, to elementary school/小学校/Shougakkou and junior high school/中学校/Chuugakkou. This is mandatory for all children. Foreign residents who wish to enroll their children in public elementary or junior high schools are also welcomed without charge. To apply, foreign students need to present the “Foreign Student Admission Permit”/外国人児童生徒入学許可書 received from the local municipality and submit it to the designated school.
High School
For high school/高等学校/Koutougakkou admission, students are generally required to take an entrance exam. Upon graduating from high school, students are eligible to apply for university or other higher education institutions.
After High School Graduation
After graduating from high school, some students go on to attend a four-year university, while others may choose to enter a two-year junior college/短期大学/Tanki Daigaku or a one-year vocational school/専門学校/Senmongakkou.
