Curriculum Outline

The education system in Japan sets high standards, which every country aims to.
No doubt, Japan is leading in numeracy and literacy skills all over the world. The
Japanese school system primarily consists of six-year elementary schools, three-year
junior high schools and three-year high schools, followed by a two-or-three-year junior
colleges or a four-year college. Compulsory education lasts for 9 years through
elementary and junior high school. School exchanges during Japan Educational Travel
are mainly implemented in junior high and high schools. For physically or mentally
challenged students, there is a system called “Special Needs Education” to support
special students to develop their self-reliance and thus enhance their social
participation.

School-Education-Chart

School Timetable

Public schools in Japan have classes five days a week, from Monday to Friday.
There are also schools that have classes on Saturday. In junior high and high schools,
there are six class periods each day, typically lasting 50 minutes for each. After classes,

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students clean the classrooms in shifts and then start their club activities. There are a
variety of clubs such as cultural and sports ones.

An Example of School Timetable

Academic Calendar
In principle, the school year begins in April and ends in March of the following
year. Most schools adopt a three-semester system, with the first semester from April to
August, the second semester from September to December, and the third semester
from January to March. There is also a summer break (from the end of July to the end
of August), a winter break (from the end of December to the beginning of January), and
a spring break (from the end of March to the beginning of April).

An Example of Academic Calendar

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Academic grading in Japan
Education in Japan has many different ways of approaching their grading
system. The motivation behind Japanese children's report card is not the grade, but
their behavior "because the report card in modern Japan shows and evaluates more
children's attitudes in their school life than their academic grades (Gordenker, 2001;
Murata & Yamaguchi, 2010)." For example, Japanese students are graded how they
greet each other in the morning, if they remember their supplies, and how they treat
plants and animals.

Grade in English Corresponding

4-scale university
Japanese (Kanji) translation percentage

Exemplary, S (90–100%), rarely S (90–100%),

shū (秀)
excellent given rarely given

yū (優) Very good A (80–89%) A (80–89%)

ryō (良) Good B (70–79%) B (70–79%)

ka (可) Average, pass C (60–69%) C (60–69%)

Approved, D (50–59%), D (50–59%),

nin (認)[a]
acceptable uncommon uncommon

Unacceptable, F (0–59% or 0–
fuka (不可) F (0–59% or 0–49%)
failed 49%)

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School Organization
Each school has a principal, a vice principal, teachers, a school nurse, and other
administration staff. As the chief executive, the principal assumes all responsibilities of
the school, including the courses provided and related administrative work. The vice
principal supports the principal to manage administrative affairs of the school and to be
in charge of student’s educational activities and curriculum as well. Furthermore, in
order to ensure school’s smooth operation, teachers take on various responsibilities,
such as taking care of educational activities, students ‘school life, and employment
guidance for students after graduation. Many schools also establish their own
committees, for example a International Exchange Promotion Committee, and others.

Regarding the Level of Education

The level of Japanese education is high even by world standards. In OECD’s
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) aimed at fifteen-year-olds,
Japanese students recorded high levels of achievement, particularly in science related
areas. Educational activities outside of school also flourish, and programs leading to
advanced education are implemented.

Foreign Language Education

English is a compulsory subject in junior high and high schools. There are also
elementary schools that introduce English education from intermediate grade classes.
In some high schools, apart from English, students are also allowed to take courses in
Chinese, Korean, French, German, etc.

Student Clubs

Student clubs are a characteristic part in Japan’s school education. Under

teachers’ guidance, students with the same interests in sports, cultural activities, or

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fields of study voluntarily gather together after classes and on days off. There are also
numerous student clubs revolving around Japanese traditional sports and culture.

The School Education System of Philippines vs The School Education System of Japan

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 Philippines Japan
 Kindergarten  Kindergarten (Kindergarten do not
form a part in compulsory
 Primary Education: 6 years education)

 Secondary Education:  Primary Education: 6 years

Junior High School – 4 years
Senior High School – 2 years  Secondary Education:
Middle Schools - 3 years
 Tertiary Education: 4 years High Schools – 3 years

 Tertiary Education: 4 years

Philippines has ten years in compulsory Japan has 9 years in compulsory

education. education.
Science Subject starts in grade 3 Science subject starts in grade 3 but
science concepts and ideas are already
incorporated in other subjects in
Kindergarten to grade 2
200 School days 243 School Days (Saturday)
Academic calendar starts in June and Academic calendar starts in April and
ends in April ends in March
Lesson is found in the Teacher’s Guide No fixed standard for the lesson plan
Filipinos have a deep point of view of The Japanese treat education as very
education, in which it is treated as the important, which is the reason why the
main street of further social and country has the highest literacy rates in
economic mobility. the world (Grolier, 1990)
Philippine system is divided into four Most Japanese schools run in three
quarters, semesters (Hughes, n.d.)

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 Education is an investment for every person (Abulencia, 2015). Members of
society benefit from education because it gives them the knowledge and skills they
need to be independent and productive members of society. Ministry of Education
Culture Sports Science and Technology (MEXT) is one of the ministries of the Japanese
government that regulates almost all aspects of the education system and process in
Japan (McMurray, 2018). In the Philippines, the basic education system is managed by
the Department of Education (DepEd), and the tertiary education by the Commission on
Higher Education(CHED).

The suggestions that we want the Philippines to adopt from the school education
system of Japan is their time allotment, around 45 to 50 minutes for 2 to 3 days a week
in all grade levels because in the Philippines, 1 to 4 times a week in elementary and
junior high school, and 80 minutes for the whole year in senior high school. These
permit Japanese students to do other activities but the Filipino counterparts are drained
and tired. The scarcity of science facilities and equipment is one common perennial
problems in the Philippines. But in Japan, state-of-the-art materials are used during
laboratory activities but many Japanese science teachers are still creating innovations.
Japan has no specific guidelines for the grading system. But Filipino students are
graded base on the standard. We should also stop the discrimination during recognition
or awarding the students at the end of the school year because has a double impact on
the students whom did not qualify to get an award, such as encouragement to strive
more or discouragement because they also did their best but not just enough. Students
who got good grades and make it on top can develop inferiority complex towards his/her
classmates which is not good that can lead to lose their manners. So, we should adopt
the academic grading system in Japan because they are graded according to their
attitudes and academic grades, so students will be good at school and also have a good
manner towards his/her fellowmen. The government must focus on the educational

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funds in the Philippines because learning materials cannot cater every student, as every
textbook there will be 2-3 students and even worse 7 who will use the same textbook.

Japan is using a descriptive type of grading system. Since Japan is giving more
focus on sciences naturally, they also earned advancement of technology. They
become the most industrialized country and their economics improved a lot. Philippines
should also focus on sciences, so that students will be more interested about sciences
and there will be many students to work with the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) that can help to improve the Philippine economics and also can
lead to a well country that we can have.

As a result, Japan and the Philippines place a high importance on education.

They were always improving quality education via numerous innovations, but they
differed in many ways. If these suggestions will be implemented in the Philippines, we
think there will be an improvement to the students and also to the community.

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REFERENCES:

Abarro K, et.al (2020) EDUCATION SYSTEMS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN:

ACOMPARATIVE STUDY.

Retrieved from:
https://www.academia.edu/13545153/Education_Systems_of_the_Philippines_and_Jap
an_A_Comparative_Study

Abulencia, A.S. (2015). The Unraveling of K-12 Programas an Education Reform in the
Philippines. South-East Asian Journal for Youth, Sports and Health Education,

Retrieved from: https://journals.mindamas.com/index.php/sipatahoenan/article/view/689

CoursePaper. (2019) Educational System of Japan and Philippines: Similarities and

Differences.

Retrieved from: https://www.coursepaper.com/essay/educational-system-of-japan-and-

philippines-similarities-and-differences/

Fair Study in Japan. (2018). What is the Education System in Japan?

Retrieved from: https://studyjapan.fairness-world.com/education-system-japan/

Japan National Tourism Organization. (2022). JAPANESE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM:

About Japanese Educational System and Japanese Schools.

Retrieved From: https://education.jnto.go.jp/en/school-in-japan/school-life-in-japan/

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McMurray, D. (2018). MEXT’s new Course of Study guidelines to rely on active learning.
The Language Teacher Tokyo, Japan: The Japanese Association for Language
Teaching Publication.

Retrieved from: https://jalt-publications.org/articles/24329-mext%E2%80%99s-new-

course-study-guidelines-rely-active-learning

Morga, P. (2020). Educational System of Japan and Philippines. Comparative

Education (Japan and Philippines)

Retrieved from: https://pt.slideshare.net/princessdeacon/comparative-education-japan-

and-philippines

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NAME: Althea Mae C. Aciga

ADDRESS: P-6, Sto, Rosario,Magallanes, Agusan Del Norte

BIRTHDATE: April 07, 2002

AGE: 20 years’ old

Future Career Plan:

My long term goal is to become a police officer, as to become one; I will study
hard, finish my studies, manage my time with other things that I do and accept
challenges that may come through. I wish to aid and serve my countrymen to the best of
my ability. When I am financially secure, I plan to assist children who are impoverished
and need basic necessities. I wish to abolish poverty since it is a barrier to our country's
progress. Lastly, I will marry the love of my life.

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NAME: Jade N. Pojas

ADDRESS: P-5, Sto.Niño,Magallanes, Agusan Del Norte

BIRTHDATE: September 16, 2001

AGE: 21 years’ old

Future Career Plan: Depende kay Lord.

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NAME: Shella B. Supas

ADDRESS: P-4, Taod-oy, Magallanes, Agusan Del Norte

BIRTHDATE: September 13, 2001

AGE: 21 years’ old

Future Career Plan: Dili lang sa.

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NAME: Carl Dominic G. Escalera

ADDRESS: P-6, Buhang, Magallanes, Agusan Del Norte

BIRTHDATE: April 21, 2001

AGE: 21 years’ old

Future Career Plan: Magpakasal kay Ma’am Jonnah.

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NAME: Briane Kyle O. Lauzon

ADDRESS: P-6, Buhang, Magallanes, Agusan Del Norte

BIRTHDATE: September 27, 2003

AGE: 19 years’ old

Future Career Plan: Mahimong artista sa Buhang.

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