Updated 15 Jun 2021. This page has sections on:
Students from rural areas, poor families at academic disadvantage: OECD study Focusing on achievement in mathematics in Japan, this article explains an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that looks at how both children in rural areas and in poor families underperform in education in Japan. It also considers the role of the expectations of parents and others on educational performance. Japan Times, Feb 10, 2016
Educational Poverty in Japan Every citizen in Japan is guaranteed the right to an education. But interviews conducted by NHK have revealed that some young people lack access to this basic right. Some have missed elementary or junior high school, and are unable to do simple math or write hiragana -- the easiest form of Japanese writing. NHK World, Sept. 1, 2018.
In Japan, 1 in 6 children lives in poverty, putting education, future at stake One in 6 Japanese children lives in poverty, the highest level since records began in 1985, according to the latest government figures. That ratio rises to 55 percent among children in single-parent families — among the worst for countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. One of the main factors hobbling the poor from getting ahead is the cost of education.Japan Times,
Sep 10, 2015.
Rich or poor, every child has a right to a quality education In Japan, 13.9 percent of children aged 17 or younger — about 2.8 million or one out of every seven — are from families with incomes below the poverty line. And some studies show there is a clear relationship between schoolchildren’s academic performance and their families’ socio-economic status. Japan Times, 5 Jun 2018.
Widening Educational Disparities Outside of School:A longitudinal study of parental involvement and early elementary schoolchildren's learning time in Japan This is a report that investigates how the practices of parents from different social classes in supporting their children's education leads to gaps in educational achievement. RIETI, The Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, 2013.
Gender Differences in the Effects of Cultural Capital and Shadow Education on Educational Attainment in Japan by Emi Kataoka. This paper asks: Why are inequalities of family background such as parental education and father’s occupation translated into educational inequalities of children, even though meritocratic principles are spreading to society and the educational selection system? 2015.
Dropout from Higher Education and Social Stratification in Japan by Satoshi Miwa and Minami Shimosegawa. A study of why students in Japan drop out of higher education that identifies four factors which have a significant impact on dropouts: gender, mother’s years of schooling, mother’s employment status, and respondent’s educational aspiration at the age of 15 years.
高等教育機会の地域格差 : 地方における高校生の大学進学行動：中央大学図書館中央書庫371.3/H97。地方高校生の進学行動を焦点に地域格差の原因をデータに基づき多角的に究明することを目的とする。朴澤泰男著
教育格差の発生・解消に関する調査研究報告書：ベネッセ教育総合研究所によるデータベース報告書
事業テーマ「教育」事例１００選：総務省によるICT地域活性化取り組み事例の紹介
「底辺校」出身の田舎者が、東大に入って絶望した理由ー知られざる「文化と教育の地域格差」：現代ビジネスオンライン。コラム式記事。阿部幸大
ふるさと納税で、地方の教育格差を解消しよう：HUPPPOST, 2015,
広がる教育格差とその改善に向けて：香川大学論文、2016
へき地教育の意識転換に関する調査結果/ Result of Questionnaires about Change of Consciousness of Rural Education, by Kawamae Ayumi, 2006. About the education gap and problems in local areas. It also has a lot of ideas about ways of doing research which may help students to build their own ideas (like writing problems→ write the positive side of it =hint for solution).
Exam Hell and the Crisis in History Education Rote memorization has displaced critical thinking and driven young Japanese students away from the study of history, argues the author, who blames the universities’ own fact-driven entrance examinations for the crisis facing the humanities and social sciences in higher education. Nippon.com, 2 Feb 2016.
Using education for social stratification An editorial that argues that a gaffe by former Education Minister, Koichi Hagiuda, about students taking English proficiency tests “in accordance with their [financial] standing" shows that "the government uses English-language tests to maintain an unspoken policy of social stratification." Japan Times, 6 Dec 2019.
Japan minister apologizes for comments downplaying inequality among university test takers Education Minister Koichi Hagiuda apologized on Oct. 28 after saying that students should "compete for university places in accordance with their standing." The article discusses social and regional inequality in relation to the entrance exam system in Japan. Mainchi, 28 October 2019.
Islanders' 28-night 'excursion' shows inequality of Japan's univ. admission tests This article considers inequality for people in rural areas for taking entrance exams and some measures being taken to change this situation. Mainichi, 17 Jan 2020.
Japan medical college association bans discrimination by age or gender under new rules The Association of Japan Medical Colleges (AJMC) has introduced new rules banning member institutions from discriminating against applicants by age or gender, the body announced on Nov. 16. The AJMC worked out the rules following revelations this year that multiple private universities' medical departments discriminated against female applicants and those who had repeatedly failed entrance examinations. Mainichi, 17 Nov 2018
More universities discriminated based on gender, age in entrance exams: minister Multiple institutions appeared to have discriminated against students sitting entrance exams based on their gender and how many times they had previously sat and failed exams. Mainichi, 12 Oct 2018.
Nihon University admits nepotism in entrance exams Nihon University on Wednesday owned up to nepotism in their admissions process, adding to the growing number of medical schools known to have been treating their applicants unfairly. Scholars involved in the school’s admission process revealed that in the past two years they gave preference to 10 applicants whose parents had graduated from the same medical school, ignoring scores from the entrance tests. Japan Times, 12 Dec 2018.
教育系NPOまとめ記事：貧困および地域による教育格差に立ち向かうNPOを10紹介
全国へき地教育研究連盟 / National Association for Study of Education in Rural and Isolated Areas (Zenhekiren)
NPO法人アイスク：”震災により経済・精神的に影響を受けた子どもは、学習面でも大きなハンディキャップを負う。ーー包括的なサポートを、地方自治体・教育系ベンチャー・地域の民間・非営利団体等多様なステークホルダーとの協働のもと行っている。”
文部科学省：学力格差にどう立ち向かうか（千葉県）