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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART II Chapter 10 Section 6 1

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PART II Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 10. Internationalization of Education, Culture, and Sports
Section 6 Improving Education for Japanese Children Overseas and Children Returning from Overseas
1. Improving Education for Japanese Children Overseas



(1) The Current Situation

Japan's increasing internationalization is reflected in the growing number of Japanese children in the compulsory education age group who are living overseas on a long-term basis. In fiscal 1994 the number stood at approximately 50,000. Full-time schools for Japanese *1 and supplementary education schools *2 have been established in countries throughout the world for these children, with local Japanese residents' associations and other groups as the establishing bodies. As of fiscal 1994 there were 90 full-time schools for Japanese and 167 supplementary education schools. There were also 16 private overseas educational facilities established by school corporations in Japan.


*1 Full-time schools for Japanese are educational facilities established to provide full-time education of the same standard as that provided in elementary and lower secondary schools in Japan. Usually they are established by local Japanese residents' associations or similar groups and managed by school boards consisting of representatives of Japanese residents' associations, parents, and other members of the Japanese community. Graduates of full-time schools for Japanese that have been certified by the Minister of Education, Science and Culture as overseas educational facilities are qualified to enter higher schools in Japan.


*2 Supplementary education schools are part-time educational facilities that provide lessons on Saturdays, after school, or at other times for Japanese children who are attending local schools or international schools. Supplementary education schools cover part of the curricula for elementary and lower secondary schools in Japan. Some facilities include kindergarten and upper secondary departments. A small number of supplementary education schools are virtually equivalent to full-time schools for Japanese in terms of the number of school days and curriculum coverage. These are referred to as "quasi-full-time supplementary schools for Japanese."


(2) Enhancing Education for Japanese Children Overseas

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture sends teachers from compulsory education schools in Japan to full-time schools for Japanese and supplementary education schools in order to improve the standard of education in these schools. A total of 1,286 teachers were assigned in fiscal 1994. The Ministry designates pilot schools to cooperate in research on education for Japanese children overseas and holds seminars for principals. Other services include the free distribution of textbooks for compulsory education, the development of teaching materials, and the provision of correspondence education. In addition, a computerized information network is being established to link educational facilities overseas with relevant agencies in Japan and provide on-line access to information about education in Japan.


(3) Building an International Perspective Through Educational Activities

Full-time schools for Japanese have the potential to develop an international perspective in Japanese people by using their characteristics as overseas education facilities to foster contact with local communities and expand understanding of other cultures. To achieve this goal, the schools are providing instruction on aspects of the countries in which they are located, including language, history, and geography. They are also encouraging contact with local children, including the development of interschool contacts by means of sports days, concerts, and other events. Some schools also accept local children who participate in international classes, Japanese classes, or other programs.

As part of its efforts to promote exchange activities and education designed to foster understanding of the countries in which full-time schools for Japanese are located, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is designating pilot schools for international education and cultural exchange (10 in fiscal 1994). International exchange directors are sent to these schools as full-time staff members to play a key role in related activities.


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