Juku
Encyclopedia
Gakushū juku(outdated)(currently only the word "juku" is used) are special private schools (primarily in Japan
) that offer lessons conducted after regular school hours and on the weekends.
Although best known and most widely publicized for their role as "cram schools", where children (sent by concerned parents) can study to improve scores on upper-secondary school entrance examination
s, academic juku actually perform several educational functions: They provide supplementary education that many children need just to keep up with the regular school curriculum
, remedial education for the children who fall behind in their work, and preparation for students striving to improve test scores and preparing for the all-important upper-secondary and university entrance examinations. In many ways, juku compensate for the formal education system's inability or unwillingness to address particular individual problems. Half of all compulsory school-age children attend academic juku, which offers instruction in mathematics
, Japanese language
, science
, English
and social studies
. Many other children, particularly younger children, attend nonacademic juku for piano
lessons, art
instruction, swimming, and abacus (soroban
) lessons. To some observers, juku represent an attempt by parents to exercise a meaningful measure of choice in Japanese education
, particularly for children attending public schools.
Juku also play a social role, and children in Japan say they like going to juku because they are able to make new friends; many children ask to be sent because their friends attend. Some children seem to like juku because of the closer personal contact they have with their teachers.
Juku attendance rose from the 1970s through the mid-1980s; participation rates increases at every grade level throughout the compulsory education
years. This phenomenon is a source of great concern to the ministry
, which issued directives to the regular schools that it hoped would reduce the need for afterschool lessons, but these directives have had little practical effect. Some juku even have branches in the United States
and other countries to help children living abroad catch up with students in Japan.
Jukus have been much debated, and often criticized in the late twentieth century. Because of the commercial nature of most juku, some critics argue that they have profit
rather than education
at heart. Not all students can afford to attend juku. Therefore juku introduce some inequality
into what had been a relatively egalitarian approach to education, at least in public schools through ninth grade. However the schools can not price themselves beyond the reach of their potential clientele. Juku are often given some priority in family budgeting.
If a student does not attend juku, it does not mean that he or she is necessarily at a disadvantage in school. Other avenues of assistance are available. For example, self-study literature and supplemental texts and study guides, some produced by publishing houses associated with juku, are widely available commercially. Most of these items are moderately priced. A correspondence course of the Upper-Secondary School of the Air
is broadcast almost daily on NHK
educational radio and television channels. These programs are free, but accompanying textbooks have to be bought. In addition, about 1% of elementary school students and 7.3% of lower-secondary school students take extra lessons at home with tutor
s.
Juku have received additional attention in recent years as there has been a general perception of a decline of educational standards in Japan; policy decisions like the abolition of Saturday schooling as well as the reduction of curricular content have been questioned. (see Yutori education
)
While new media have been introduced into juku as instructional and delivery methods, traditional teaching is increasingly shifting to individual tutor
ing. This shift is partly a response by the supplementary education industry to declining numbers of children
and the threat this decline poses to their industry.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) that offer lessons conducted after regular school hours and on the weekends.
Although best known and most widely publicized for their role as "cram schools", where children (sent by concerned parents) can study to improve scores on upper-secondary school entrance examination
Entrance examination
An entrance examination is an examination that many educational institutions use to select students for admission. These exams may be administered at any level of education, from primary to higher education, although they are more common at higher levels....
s, academic juku actually perform several educational functions: They provide supplementary education that many children need just to keep up with the regular school curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
, remedial education for the children who fall behind in their work, and preparation for students striving to improve test scores and preparing for the all-important upper-secondary and university entrance examinations. In many ways, juku compensate for the formal education system's inability or unwillingness to address particular individual problems. Half of all compulsory school-age children attend academic juku, which offers instruction in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
. Many other children, particularly younger children, attend nonacademic juku for piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons, art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
instruction, swimming, and abacus (soroban
Soroban
The is an abacus developed in Japan. It is derived from the Chinese suanpan, imported from China via Korea to Japan around 1600. Like the suanpan, the soroban is still used today, despite the proliferation of practical and affordable pocket electronic calculators....
) lessons. To some observers, juku represent an attempt by parents to exercise a meaningful measure of choice in Japanese education
Education in Japan
In Japan, education is compulsory at the elementary and lower secondary levels. Approximately 98% of all students progress to the upper secondary level, which is voluntary . Most students attend public schools through the lower secondary level, but private education is popular at the upper...
, particularly for children attending public schools.
Juku also play a social role, and children in Japan say they like going to juku because they are able to make new friends; many children ask to be sent because their friends attend. Some children seem to like juku because of the closer personal contact they have with their teachers.
Juku attendance rose from the 1970s through the mid-1980s; participation rates increases at every grade level throughout the compulsory education
Compulsory education
Compulsory education refers to a period of education that is required of all persons.-Antiquity to Medieval Era:Although Plato's The Republic is credited with having popularized the concept of compulsory education in Western intellectual thought, every parent in Judea since Moses's Covenant with...
years. This phenomenon is a source of great concern to the ministry
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
The , also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871....
, which issued directives to the regular schools that it hoped would reduce the need for afterschool lessons, but these directives have had little practical effect. Some juku even have branches in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and other countries to help children living abroad catch up with students in Japan.
Jukus have been much debated, and often criticized in the late twentieth century. Because of the commercial nature of most juku, some critics argue that they have profit
Profit (economics)
In economics, the term profit has two related but distinct meanings. Normal profit represents the total opportunity costs of a venture to an entrepreneur or investor, whilst economic profit In economics, the term profit has two related but distinct meanings. Normal profit represents the total...
rather than education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
at heart. Not all students can afford to attend juku. Therefore juku introduce some inequality
Economic inequality
Economic inequality comprises all disparities in the distribution of economic assets and income. The term typically refers to inequality among individuals and groups within a society, but can also refer to inequality among countries. The issue of economic inequality is related to the ideas of...
into what had been a relatively egalitarian approach to education, at least in public schools through ninth grade. However the schools can not price themselves beyond the reach of their potential clientele. Juku are often given some priority in family budgeting.
If a student does not attend juku, it does not mean that he or she is necessarily at a disadvantage in school. Other avenues of assistance are available. For example, self-study literature and supplemental texts and study guides, some produced by publishing houses associated with juku, are widely available commercially. Most of these items are moderately priced. A correspondence course of the Upper-Secondary School of the Air
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
is broadcast almost daily on NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
educational radio and television channels. These programs are free, but accompanying textbooks have to be bought. In addition, about 1% of elementary school students and 7.3% of lower-secondary school students take extra lessons at home with tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
s.
Juku have received additional attention in recent years as there has been a general perception of a decline of educational standards in Japan; policy decisions like the abolition of Saturday schooling as well as the reduction of curricular content have been questioned. (see Yutori education
Yutori education
is a Japanese education policy which reduces the hours and the content of the curriculum in primary education. In recent years, the mass media in Japan have used this phrase to criticize drops in scholastic ability.- About :...
)
While new media have been introduced into juku as instructional and delivery methods, traditional teaching is increasingly shifting to individual tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
ing. This shift is partly a response by the supplementary education industry to declining numbers of children
Demographics of Japan
The demographic features of the population of Japan include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
and the threat this decline poses to their industry.