Announcement on FY2012 School Basic Survey

August 27, 2012

With the aim of clarifying basic school matters necessary for the administration of school education, MEXT has been annually carrying out the Basic School Survey ever since 1948.

This is to report promptly on the survey results for FY2012.
 

Survey Contents

1 Date of survey 

 May 1, 2012

2 Subject of survey       

Kindergarten, Elementary school, Lower secondary school, Upper secondary school, Secondary school, School for special needs education, University, Junior college, College of technology, Vocational school, Local board of education

3 Items of survey 

Number of schools, number of students enrolled, number of new graduates, number of graduates entering employment, number of students advancing onto next stage of education

Summary of Survey Results

1  The overall number of students enrolled in schools starting from kindergarten up to upper secondary school (*) is 15.436 million, 124 thousand students less than last year.

(1) For elementary school, the number of students enrolled has been decreasing for the past four years. The number of students for this year’s survey has decreased by 123 thousand students, renewing the record low for the lowest number of students enrolled.

(2) For lower secondary school, the number of students enrolled has been decreasing for the past seven years. For upper secondary school, although the number of students enrolled has been stable for the last four years, it is estimated to decrease within the next few years.

(*) includes secondary education schools and schools for special needs education

2  The number of students enrolled in universities is 2.876 million, 18 thousand students less than last year. In the long-term, the total number of both undergraduate and graduate students is on the rise. Although the number of students enrolled hit a record high last year, the number has decreased this year.

3  The number of students enrolled at vocational schools is 57.8 thousand, four thousand more students compared to last year. The number has continued to increase for the last three years.

4  The ratio of students entering universities or junior colleges is on the rise in the long-term. With 2010 marking a peak, however, the number has slightly fallen for the last two years. The ratio of students entering vocational schools has increased consecutively for the past three years.

(1) Ratio of students entering either university or junior college (while still enrolled in high school) 53.6 percent (0.3 point decrease from last year)

(2)  Ratio of students entering university undergraduate program (while still enrolled in high school) 47.7 percent (same as last year)

(3) Ratio of students entering vocational schools (while still enrolled in high school) 16.8 percent (0.6 point increase from last year)

5  The ratio of students successfully entering employment after graduation from either upper secondary school, university or graduate school has increased consecutively for the past two years.

(1) Ratio of upper secondary school graduates entering employment   16.8 percent (0.5 point increase from last year)

(2) Ratio of university graduates entering employment   63.9 percent (2.3 point increase from last year)

(3) Ratio of graduate school graduates (Master’s Course) entering employment   73.2 percent (0.6 point increase from last year)

(4) Ratio of graduate school graduates (Doctor’s Course) entering employment       67.2 percent (3.3 point increase from last year) 

6  The total number of university graduates who either: are entering employment not as a full time staff, found a temporary job, or neither advanced to the next stage of education and or did not find employment is 128 thousand. This makes the ratio of graduates who did not find stable employment at 22.9 percent.