10 Interesting Facts about International Schools in Tokyo, Japan
Japan is well known for many exciting things. From fashion and inventions to entertainment. Moreover, the quirky traditions and other weird practices make it an ideal place to visit.
In Japan, learning comes first before anything as it has been held paramount since ancient times. Today, about 90% of children are literate because most parents consider education essential. However, several surprising and different things with Japan’s education system defer from your children’s former school.
Let’s dive into the ten most interesting facts about international schools in Tokyo, Japan.
1. Students Have a Strong Sense of Acceptance
Schools in Japan, such as the Global Indian International School, provide a conducive environment to make their students comfortable. Unlike other schools where students lack a sense of belonging and acceptance, Japanese educational institutions make students feel like they are part of daily activities in the school.
2. Students Don’t Repeat Grades.
Most schools outside Japan promote each student based on the grades achieved. However, in Japanese learning institutions, students in primary and lower secondary are not subjected to repeat their grades when they fail exams.
3. Lunch is Served Using a Uniform Menu.
Students in public elementary and junior high school share similar menus in the classroom during the lunch break. This isn’t the only thing that’s different about schools in the country. To create a strong bond between teachers and students, even the teachers eat their lunch in class with their students.
4. Sleeping in the Classroom is not Condemned
To prosper in Japanese schools, students must put in a lot of hard work and determination. Since teachers provide a lot of homework every day, students tend to get exhausted and may sleep during class or school club times.
What’s shocking is that the behaviour is not punished since the teacher understands why this is happening. Some teachers even give the students permission to sleep and come back to class refreshed.
5. Students Wear the Same School Bags and Shoes
Students in Japanese schools are required to put on the same shoes. While in junior school, students are subjected to put on similar bags and shoes provided by the school to maintain uniformity.
Since many students go home late at night, the school provides them with safety stripes that reflect light to prevent road accidents. Additionally, students must put on separate shoes while entering the school to reduce dirt, especially during this coronavirus pandemic.
6. Students and Teachers Don’t Go on Vacations.
During vacations, students don’t get to rest. In fact, in junior and high school, each student is a club member, and the teacher supervises those clubs. Besides that, students are given a lot of homework to complete during the vacation.
Consequently, teachers are not allowed to rest since they must go to school and conduct their regular duties except during national holidays.
7. Schools in Japan Lack Janitors.
Does this surprise you? Well, this is one of the strangest things while studying in Japanese schools. In most schools, the head employs janitors to help students in cleanliness. But this is not the case for schools in Japan. The fascinating part is that the students, teachers, and other leaders team up to clean the school.
Additionally, students and staff take a few minutes to prepare their bodies and minds for the work ahead of them. This practice enables students to become responsible members of society.
8. Students are not Sent Out of the Classroom.
For schools located outside Japan, sending students out of class is common because bad behaviour is punishable. But in Japan, students are not sent outside the classroom whenever they misbehave as they are entitled to equal education. However, teachers can send students outside in rare cases if the student continues to misbehave.
9. Students are Excited While in School
According to research done, many students outside Japan tend to fear going to school for various reasons. But in Japan, almost 85% of students are happy whenever they are in school because teachers reduce fear by maintaining positive relationships.
10. Students Don’t Skip Classes.
Unlike other schools outside Japan, where students skip lessons, those in Japan shouldn’t fail to attend lessons. Additionally, they are not allowed to arrive late in school because every student must arrive on time unless one has a better reason to miss out.
In Japanese schools, life is not similar to that of other educational institutions outside the country. Students are subjected to a lot of work to become responsible members and great leaders in the future.
The practices help foreigners understand how a school in Japan moulds students with several techniques to assist them in their daily living activities. If you believe these schools will bring out the best in your children, start the process of enrolling them in one of the institutions.
