Japanese education and the cram school business : functions, challenges and perspectives of the juku / Marie Højlund Roesgaard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Roesgaard, Marie H.

Series:

Nordic Institute of Asian Studies monograph series ; no. 105.

NIAS monograph ; no. 105

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cram schools--Japan.

Cram schools.

Education--Japan.

Education.

Japan.

Physical Description:

x, 203 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Place of Publication:

Copenhagen : NIAS ; Abingdon : Marston [distributor], 2006.

Summary:

Cram schools (in Japanese called juku) are often mentioned in passing as a phenomenon functioning mainly to exacerbate competition and pressure on children, but a thorough study of their function and a proper typology for understanding them has not previously been available in English. It is the author's intention to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of this feature of education, which is not only important in Japan but increasingly so in other parts of the world as well. Her major conclusion is that a clear distinction between different types of juku is necessary so that their function as well as merits and demerits can be properly assessed. Although juku have often been decried as enhancing competition in the Japanese system of schooling, this study also provides evidence that without them, the regular system of schooling would not be able to function. In the modern polarized society that is Japan, juku are taking on a variety of new functions that this study aims to uncover. 'It is a scholarly piece of work which will be of interest to those in Japanese studies and comparative education ... There is nothing else that covers exactly the same ground and there is clearly a need for such a book on reading lists.' (external reviewer).

Contents:

Part I The Scene

1 The Typology of Juku 29

Part II The Actors

2 Shingaku Juku 59

3 Hoshu Juku 101

4 Donriru juku 118

Part III The Whys, the Hows and the Future

6 The Juku and Political Measures 145

7 Benefits and Costs: What is There to Win and What Is There to Lose? 164

8 Present and Future of Juku - Education, Election and New Potential 175.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 191-199) and index.

ISBN:

8791114918

OCLC:

62224582