Depression In Japan's Education System

Japan’s education system is often seen as a success internationally, as Japanese students tend to do significantly better than students in North America in the Math and Sciences. (Rohlen, 2001) The post-war occupation of schooling has provided Japan with the right tools to create economic success and social stability.(Rohlen, 2001) Japan’s education system follows a 6-3-3-4 system, where it is six years of primary school, three years of middle and high school, and four years of university. (Rohlen, 2001) Although Japan has created tremendous success in their students, unfavourable developments have arisen due to the pressure that are put on Japan’s students in order to succeed in school. Getting into a high ranking university, and graduating …show more content…
This competitive way of schooling puts tremendous pressures on the students in order to do well, and in some cases, the pressures can result negatively, causing cases of severe depression in the students. According to the article “Examination Hell” there have been “repeated complaints in the Japanese press that examination hell has prevented Japanese students from having a healthy childhood, has blunted intellectual curiosity, has discouraged females from applying to universities, has overlooked less academic leadership skills, and has encouraged those students who finally do get admitted to do almost no academic work while in college.” (Beauchamp, 1991) Criticism likes these are not uncommon, and these intense, competitive examinations are seen as harming the students, and changing their perceptions of education. The effects of the entrance examinations generates intense pressure that is endured by the students, on their pursuit of academic achievement, this pressure is often felt by high school students who are preparing to enter university, there is special focused attention given on entrance exams for university particularly because of the colossal impact that it has on students lives.(Beauchamp, 1991) According to a study done on East Asian adolescents, the …show more content…
As discussed in the paper, we interpreted the criticisms towards examination hell, also looked into the high rates of suicide and depression that has been blamed on examination hell, as these examination cause a great of an amount of pressure, leading to serious consequences. The paper also discusses the preparation involved in order to succeed in these entrance examinations, and the criticism of that.. There is an immense amount of pressure that is put on the student, because of the importance of doing well on these entrance exams. Students feel that their entire future and well-being relies on these exams, with the perception that doing well on the examination will result in the students being accepted into top universities, leading them to get a good job, high social status, and even a good marriage. As noted various times, education is of great importance in Japan, and the success of great of the country, but a major flaw, and criticism is examination