Education in Japan In Japan, education is compulsory at the elementary and lower secondary levels. Virtually all students progress to the upper secondary level, which is voluntary. Most students attend public schools through the lower secondary level, but private educationis popular at the upper secondary and university levels. Japan's education system played a central part in Japan's recovery and rapid economic growth in the decades following the end of World War II. After WWII, the Fundamental Law of Educationand the School Education Lawwere enacted in 1947 under the direction of the occupation forces. The latter law defined the school system that is still in effect today: six years of elementary school, three years of junior high school, three years of high school, two or four years of university. Education prior to elementary school is provided at kindergartens and day-carecenters. Public and private day-care centers take children from under age one on up to five years old. The programmes for those children ages 3–5 resembles those at kindergartens. The educational approach at kindergartens varies greatly from unstructured environments that emphasize play to highly structured environments that are focused on having the child pass the entrance exam at a private elementary school. AgeGradeEducational establishments 3-4
Kindergarten
Special School
Elementary school
4-5
5-6
6-71 7-82 8-93
9-104 10-11 5 11-12 6 12-13 1 13-14 2 Middle school / Lower secondary school
14-15 3 15-16 1 16-17 2High school / Upper secondary school College of technology
Medical School Community College
17-18 3 18-19
National University: AcademUndergraduay te 19-2Associat0e
