INCA Education around the world
Japan : Keywords
Abbreviations and acronyms
| DSCD | Designated Schools for Curriculum Development |
| GDP | Gross domestic product |
| GNP | Gross national product |
| HOSA | Homeschool Support Association of Japan |
| ICT | Information and communications technology |
| IEA | International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement |
| ILO | International Labour Organisation |
| JTUC | Research Institute for the Advancement of Living Standards |
| LDP | Liberal Democrat Party |
| MEXT | Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology - replaced the Monbusho in January 2001 (see Monbusho glossary definition, in addition.) |
| NCER | National Council on Educational Reform |
| NCUEE | National Centre for University Entrance |
| NCVQ | National Council for Vocational Qualifications (England) (now QCA) |
| NFER | National Foundation for Educational Research (in England and Wales) |
| NIER | National Institute for Educational Research of Japan |
| OECD | Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development |
| PE | Physical education |
| QCA | Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (England) (formed on 1 October 1997 following the merger of SCAA and NCVQ) |
| SCAA | School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (England) (now QCA) |
| US | United States |
Glossary
| Japanese term | English term | |
| chugakko | junior high school(s) | Provides three-year compulsory lower secondary education for students aged 12-15. |
| daigaku | University | |
| hoikuen | nursery/nurseries | (Or day-care centre) offers pre-compulsory childcare and education for children from the age of 6 months to compulsory school age, 6 years old, cf. kindergarten (yochien). Hoikuen come under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, rather than the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture. |
| juku
|
crammer(s) | Private institution offering extra, usually evening, tuition in Japanese language and mathematics in particular, and also often in English and science. Available at all levels of the education system in Japan, even pre-compulsory. |
| kakushu-gakkô |
miscellaneous school(s) |
Post-compulsory school (for students aged 15+ who have successfully completed compulsory education) which provides students with vocational and practical training in courses such as dressmaking, book-keeping, typing, computer techniques etc. |
| Koseisho | Ministry of Health and Welfare (has responsibility for nursery/hoikuen education). | |
| kôtô-gakkô | senior high school(s) | Post-compulsory upper secondary school providing a general education for students, usually aged 15-18, who have successfully completed compulsory junior high school. |
| kôtô-senmon-gakkô | college(s) of technology
or technical college(s) |
(Or 'professional training college'.) Accepts those who have completed compulsory lower secondary schooling (in junior high school), age 15+, and offers, mostly, five-year programmes leading to the title of 'associate'. Programmes offer the study of specialised and/or vocational subjects in depth. |
| Monbusho | Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture. In January 2001, Monbusho became MEXT, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. | |
| senshû-gakkô | special training college(s) | Educational institutions offering a variety of practical, vocational and technical education programmes. Special training colleges offer courses at post-compulsory upper secondary level; post-secondary (post compulsory education) level; and general vocational, technical or practical courses. These usually last not less than one year, and for 800 hours or more per year. |
|
shidoyoroku |
record(s) of guidance | Statutory document used to record the achievements of students during elementary education. |
| shogakko | elementary school(s) | Provides the first six years of compulsory education for children aged 6-12 years. Education is compulsory for nine years in Japan, 6- to 15-year-olds. |
| tanki-daigaku | junior college(s) | An institution of higher education for students who have completed post-compulsory upper secondary school (or a 12-year formal education) and have received the Certificate of Upper Secondary Education. Admission is not guaranteed by possession of the Certificate of Upper Secondary Education; junior colleges define their own admissions procedures which may, in addition, include such items as upper secondary credentials, entrance tests, interviews etc. |
|
tsuchihyo |
school report card(s) | Sent to parents to report on the progress of students. |
| yobiko | Private institutions offering extra tuition, usually specifically for examination preparation. | |
| yochien | kindergarten(s) | Provides pre-compulsory education for children, usually from 3 years old to compulsory school age, 6 years, cf. nursery (hoikuen). Yochien come under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture. |
| moral education | One of the strands that is taught throughout education in Japan, moral education is not a school subject, as such, but a character building principle that is taught, practised and tested right through from pre-compulsory to university level education. | |
|
|
principal | Headteacher. |
