Japanese Government Policies in Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2001 [EDUCATIONAL REFORM Q&A Q4]

QUESTION

Lately, I have heard of a drift away from science and technology. What are your thoughts on the current situation and what kinds of measures are you taking?

Answer

To promote science and technology, it is important to cultivate outstanding human resources in science and technology and gain the understanding and support of youths and other people toward science and technology.

According to International Research on Mathematics and Science Education by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), marks in science and mathematics by Japanese elementary and secondary education students are at the top of the international level. In addition, regarding the percentage of correct answers to the same questions, there is no trend of grades falling over the years.

Concern over the drift by youth as well as the public at large away from science and technology has been cited in many settings. According to supplementary research by the National Institute for Educational Research of Japan, children feel that science is less and less interesting as their school level increases. Specifically, although over 80% of fifth-year elementary school students feel that "science is interesting," this figure drops to over 60% for second-year lower secondary school students and to just over 50% for upper secondary school students. In addition, according to a survey by the IEA, the percentage of Japanese students who "like" or "enjoy science" is at the lowest level when compared to international results. Furthermore, the ratio of Japanese students who responded that "Science is important in our lives" and "I would like to work in a job that uses science" is considerably lower than the international average and lowest among surveyed countries. The cultivation of children's interest in science is an important task.

We are working to increase students' desires to develop intellectual curiosity and a spirit of inquiry in the following as well as other ways so as to improve the capacity for science and technology of society as a whole.

{1} At elementary as well as lower and upper secondary schools, we emphasize experiential, problem-solving approaches to learning, including observation/experimentation and assignment study, and are working to develop the necessary facilities.
{2} We are using the latest results from science- and technology-related research institutes to prepare digital educational materials and guidance materials for teachers so that they are better able to teach science to children in easy-to-understand ways.
{3} Through partnerships with universities, research institutes, local science centers and museums, we will implement studies that familiarize students with science and technology and introduce to them the sight of human resources in science and technology are active in society.


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