Education Policy and Equal Opportunity in Japan

1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-0-85745-267-2
Verlag: Berghahn Books

Buch, Englisch, Band 4, 218 Seiten, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 468 g

Reihe: Asia-Pacific Studies: Past and Present

In many societies today, educational aims or goals are commonly characterized in terms of “equality,” “equal opportunity,” “equal access” or “equal rights,” the underlying assumption being that “equality” in some form is an intelligible and sensible educational ideal. Yet, there are different views and lively debates about what sort of equality should be pursued; in particular, the issue of equality of educational opportunity has served as justification for much of the postwar restructuring of educational systems around the world. The author explores different interpretations of the concept of equality of educational opportunity in Japan, especially as applied to post-World War II educational policies. By focusing on the positions taken by key actors such as the major political parties, central administrative bodies, teachers’ unions, and scholars, he describes how their concepts have developed over time and in what way they relate to the making of educational policy, especially in light of Japan’s falling birthrate and aging society.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Okada, Akito

Fachgebiete

• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften
• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Pädagogik Geschichte der Pädagogik, Richtungen in der Pädagogik
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Asiatische Geschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of figures and tables

Acknowledgements

Notes on Style

Japanese Terms

Abbreviations

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Initial Application of Equal Opportunity to The Education System in Japan, 1868-1944

Chapter 2. The Initial Position of the Concept of Equal Opportunity in Education, 1945-1950

Chapter 3. The Development of the New Perspective on Equal Opportunity in Education 1951-1959

Chapter 4. The Development of the Concept of Equal Opportunity Under the High Economic Growth Period 1960s-1970s

Chapter 5. From Human Capital to Market Values in Education: The 1980s to Present Day

Chapter 6. Educational Reform and Equality of Opportunity in Current Japan

Conclusion

Appendix I:The Japanese School System in 1937

Appendix II:The Japanese School System in the 1980s

Appendix III:The Japanese School System in 2008

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Okada, Akito
Akito Okada is Associate Professor in the Institute of Global Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. He is the author of “Secondary Education Reform and the Concept of Equality of Opportunity in Japan” in Compare (2009); “Japan as a Prototype of the ‘Degreeocracy’ Society?” in Educational Review (2001); and “Education of whom, for whom, by whom? Revision of the Fundamental Law of Education in Japan” in Japan Forum (2002). His main research interest is Japanese educational reform in comparative context.

Akito Okada is Associate Professor in the Institute of Global Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. He is the author of “Secondary Education Reform and the Concept of Equality of Opportunity in Japan” in Compare (2009); “Japan as a Prototype of the ‘Degreeocracy’ Society?” in Educational Review (2001); and “Education of whom, for whom, by whom? Revision of the Fundamental Law of Education in Japan” in Japan Forum (2002). His main research interest is Japanese educational reform in comparative context.