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CHAPTER . EXPANSION OF EDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIES

As of 1970, the number of upper secondary school students was 4,380,000, of which 3,850,000 were full-time students, 370,000 part-time students, and 160,000correspondence students. During the last ten years, the total number of upper secondary school students reached a peak of 5,190,000 in 1965, after which it has been gradually decreasing.

Figure 9. Trends in the Number of Upper Secondary School Students by Type of Enrollment, 1959 -1970

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Note: Actual numbers are given in Basic Table 9. Basic Table 9

However, an analysis of tone changes in the percent distribution of the numberof upper secondary SCIIOOI students, by type of enrollment, shows that while full-time and correspondence students showed a gradual increase in proportion to the total, part-time students tended to decrease. This was due to the increase in the proportion of lower secondary school graduates entering fu11-time upper secondary schools.

Table 6. Percent( Distribution of Upper Secondary School Students by Type of Enrollment

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Note: Actual numbers are given in Basic Table 9. Basic Table 9

The gradual increase in the number of correspondence students is attributable to the convenience of this method of study for working youths and to the fact that recent years an increasing number of enterprises enroll groups of their employees in correspondence schools.

Various measures have been taken to promote part-time and correspondence education for the benefit of working youths. "Experimental part-time and correspondence schools" which have both part-time and correspondence courses have been promoted to study how these types of education can meet the actual conditions of working youths. In addition, there is a system of cooperation between upper secondary part-time and correspondence schools and training facilities within enterprises. Moreover the system of study at training facilities within enterprises which is equivalent to that of regular upper secondary schools, has been expanded since its introduction in 1962.

As of 1970, there were five upper secondary schools exclusively designed as correspondence schools for students living in all parts of the country. The NHK Upper Secondary School is one of these.

In 1970 enrollment in private full-time upper secondary schools was 32.7%.The proportion of full-time upper secondary school students enrolled in privateSCh00lS h3lS been about 3O% except in 1964 and 1965 When it increased slightly due to the rapid increase in the total number of chi1dren entering upper secondary schools. This proportion, however, greatly differs from one prefecture to another, ranging front a high of 60% to a low of 5%. (See Basic Table 11.) Basic Table 11