Tutoring aims to help students understand the subjects that were taught in the classroom. In Japan there are some forms of this type of reinforcement which is known as Juku (学習塾) or Gakken. These tutoring classes are separate private lessons and usually take place 7 days a week, outside regular school hours.
Juku are private schools that charge fees and offer supplementary classes, like a preparatory course for entrance exams to school and university. Juku is usually conducted after school hours, on weekends and during school holidays.
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How did Juku start?
In the 70s and 80s, these tutoring classes already existed, and it was during this period that they became more famous in Japan. There has been a large increase in the number of students, but mainly among elementary school students (compulsory).
According to the Ministry of Education, this did not have a positive effect, because if many students were looking for classes for tutoring, then in theory it would be because normal education was not enough. With this, some guidelines were made in common schools to reduce the search for school reinforcement. This measure did not have much effect.
The Juku has gone through a lot of changes lately. Teaching is no longer just a school reinforcement, but a complement to help the student leave school even more empowered. There are two types of Juku: academic and non-academic, the choice will depend on what level of education the student is and which one he wants to achieve.
How does tutoring work?
In Japan, after-school tutoring classes are not mandatory, but when a student wants to improve their understanding of the subject or to prepare for important exams, they resort to this resource. At least 20% of students already start attending Juku in preschool. The goal is to the entrance exams for elementary school.
When children enter elementary school (7th, 8th and 9th grade Chuugaku), they begin to prepare for high school (Koukou). So some parents already find it appropriate to put them in another Juku. And when you're in high school, your concern is to prepare for the entrance exam. But only if the person wants to study more because high school is not mandatory in Japan.
The school reinforcement helps these students to study in great schools in high school. Many of these high schools have technical specialization. There are schools for students who want to be public servants, for those who want to enter prestigious colleges, or for those who want to study languages or become nurses, farmers, or mechanics.
In some countries, such as Brazil and the United States, they have a Juku structure aimed at Japanese students who ended up in another country because of work in the country, but who intend to return to their country of origin in the future. The advantage is that the child will not lag behind other Japanese students. Those students who do Juku outside of Japanese territory take tests and simulations in order to know their knowledge regarding the Japanese school average.
Academic and non-academic juku
According to the String Fixer website (stringfixer.com), non-academic Juku is focused on extracurricular classes. It is not a school reinforcement but extra classes for new learning and skills. Usually, younger children attend non-academic Juku. The classes offered are generally: piano, languages, art, abacus classes (soroban).
Academic Juku can be divided into categories:
- Medium or small local cursive schools;
- Schools to rescue children who dropped out of or avoid regular school;
- franchise cram schools;
- Other different types of courses.
In 2011 alone, 1 in every 5 children attended extra classes. This number was higher than the number of students aiming to go to college. The amounts paid for Juku annually were around 260,000 yen.
Academic Juku offer math, Japanese language, science, English and social studies as required subjects. These are more geared towards students who choose to take a 'cram school' in order to the high school entrance exam. Although, for us, it can seem very tiring for a child to study so much, in general, those who go to Juku really like it!
This type of education has already been questioned a lot. Even more in relation to these tutoring classes. Those who choose to do it live to study and most are small children. Japan is known for having a good education, but not all students are able to access Juku.
Juku can help those who have an education in a public school, but not always those who study in this school can afford to pay Juku for their children. And parents certainly want them to have a good education at the same level as others.
What did you think of Japanese tutoring classes?
