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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART I Chapter 2 Section 3 2

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PART I New Directions in School Education
Chapter 2. The Aims of the Five-Day School Week
Section 3. Research Concerning a Semimonthly
2. Public Opinion Trends and Attitudes of Parents


Introduction of the five-day school week involves the structural reform of school education, which will affect the public in various ways. Therefore it is necessary to seek the understanding not only of schools, families, and communities but also of various other sectors of society. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is taking this aspect into account in its approach to the task.


(1) Public Attitudes to the Five-Day School Week

As already mentioned, in March 1994 the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture conducted the "Survey on Attitudes to School Education and the Five-Day School Week." This survey of schoolchildren, teachers, and parents was designed to ascertain public attitudes to the five-day school week. When the survey was carried out, the monthly five-day school week had already been implemented. Respondents were asked for their views about a further increase in the number of Saturdays on which schools would be closed.

"Saturday school holidays should be increased" was chosen by 72.8% of elementary school pupils, 80.1% of lower secondary school students, 71.5% of upper secondary school students, and 77.8% of teachers. Among parents, 30.9% thought that "Saturday school holidays should be increased," while 21.9% stated that it was "hard to say" and 47.2% thought that "Saturday school holidays should not be increased" ( Figure I.2.5 ). A gender breakdown of parents' attitudes reveals that more fathers (43.5%) were in favor of an increase in Saturday school holidays than were opposed (38.6%), but mothers in favor of more Saturday school holidays (28.1%) were outnumbered by those against (49.2%) ( Figure I.2.6 ).

When the attitudes of parents are analyzed according to the school levels of their children, it emerges that 29.1% of parents of elementary school pupils were in favor of an increase in Saturday school holidays. The percentage rose to 31.2% among parents of lower secondary school students and 38.0% among parents of upper secondary school students. The percentages of those opposed to an increase were 47.9% among parents of elementary school pupils, 49.7% among parents of lower secondary school students, and 40.8% among parents of upper secondary school students ( Figure I.2.7 ).

In May 1990, prior to the implementation of the monthly five-day school week, the National Congress of Parents and Teachers Associations of Japan conducted a survey concerning the enhancement of children' out-of-school activities. The results showed that 18.3% of parents of elementary school children preferred a five-day school week and 66.3% a six-day school week. At the lower secondary school level, 19.8% of parents preferred a five-day school week and 63.2% a six-day school week ( Figure I.2.8 ).

The results of the March 1994 survey show that while there is strong support for an increase in the frequency of Saturday school holidays among schoolchildren and teachers, support is outweighed by opposition among parents. A more detailed breakdown of parents' views reveals that more fathers are in favor and more mothers are opposed, and that parental support for increased Saturday school holidays rises with children' school level. A comparison with attitudes revealed in the 1990 survey conducted by the National Congress of Parents and Teachers Associations of Japan shows that there has been a rise in the percentage of parents favoring the five-day school week.


(2) Attitudes of Parents of Children Attending Pilot Schools

The samples of the above-mentioned surveys were taken from all parents of children in elementary schools, lower secondary schools, and upper secondary schools. Below, the attitudes of parents with children attending pilot schools are analyzed.

In April 1994 the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture conducted questionnaire surveys of parents of children attending pilot schools. Respondents were asked to indicate their views about a semimonthly five-day school week before and after implementation of the research. The percentage who approved of a semimonthly five-day school week ("in favor" and "fairly in favor") totaled 50.8% before the start of research, rising to 66.0% after implementation. The percentage opposed ("against" and "somewhat against") declined from 39.8% before the start of research to 27.7% after implementation ( Figure I.2.9 ). These results indicate that parental understanding of the five-day school week increased during the implementation of research on a semimonthly five-day school week.

Figure I.2.5. Opinions Regarding an Increases in the Number of Saturday School Holidays (School Children, Teachers, and Parents)

Figure I.2.6. Opinions Regarding an Increases in the Number of Saturday School Holidays (Parents, by Gender)

Figure I.2.7. Parental Attitudes Toward a Further Increase in Saturday School Holidays (by Type of School)

Figure I.2.8. Parental Approval or Disapproval of the Five-Day School Week

Figure I.2.9. Attitudes Toward a Semimonthly Five-Day School Week of Patents with Children Attending Pilot Schools


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