Education. (Part 3)

Why is education important?
Zomahoun Rufin said, "Education is the foundation of the nation." and he builds many schools in his homeland, Benin.

The miraculous revival of Japan after World War II is also based here.

It is not well-known that graduate of engineering schools are excempted from conscription during the war.
They had survived, and contributed a lot to the revival.
Japan lost so much in the war, but not the technology (the brain).

In fact, during the rapid economic growth, Japan's education was top level of the world.
(It's not well-known too, since education are held in Japanese, and only few foreign students came to Japan to study.)

Japanese style of education is to "mass-produce the quality".
Most of the students are made to be "the same as others", and supplied to enterprises, which leaded Japan to prosperity.

But on 1980's, Japan abdicated it's position to Korea.
Other rising nations, like Taiwan or Singapore are following.

It was also the end of generation of education stressing memorization.
It was clear that something like "creativity", "conception", "application", "leadership", "ability to solve a problem", are more important than "knowledge".
Then, on 1990's, Japan turned it's style into education free of pressure with latitude.

Still, it is questionable if it is working out.
In order to cover the omitted lessons, children are obliged to go to cram school or supplementary private school.
Thus, they have reduced their free time than before.

I think the "free of pressure" is FOR TEACHERS, not for students.

Nowadays, it's rare to see a passionate teacher.
Of course, they exist. But at the same time, they are usually found in expensive schools.

Since when did the teachers lost enthusiasm to teach?

In Korea, ONLY THE TOP 10% of the examinees are qualified to become the teachers.
This is also one of the reason why Korea's education became the top level of the world.

After all, quality of education greatly depends on teachers.

Education. (Part 2)

The birthrate of Japan reached 1.28, which is lowest in all the advanced nation.
This causes a lot of social problems, such as Pensions.

Another thing is Education.

During the "rapid economic growth" on 1950's to 1970's,
population was increasing rapidly.
At the same time, schooling became affordable in every family.
Thus, there were so many schools built.

But now,
many schools are closed, due to lack of students to run.

This is not a latest news, it was also happening before.
But it usually happened in rural area,
that decrease in population is not only for youth but for all generation.

Now, there are many colleges where they let enter the examinees 100% for admission and yet lacks the quota.

Moreover, people called "NEET" - Not in Employment, Education or Training - is increasing.

Do you know how much big issue is about NEET?

1. The nation became rich.
2. Cost of bringing up children gets expensive.
3. Birth Rate goes down.
4. More money is spent for every child.
5. CHILDREN'S MOTIVATION TO WORK LOWERS. (we are here)
6. At the same time, a lot of baby boomers retire. (coming soon on 2007)
7. Shortage of labor.
8. Nobody inherits some technologies.
9. LOSS OF TECHNOLOGY. (our future)

Beyond it: you already know.
Japan is an industrial nation, supported by technologies.

Education. (Part 1)

Education is extremely expensive in Japan.

Tokyo University is one of the most well-known public university in Japan,
but it has a tuition fee of about 5,000 US Dollars per annum.
when it comes to private universities or colleges,
20,000 US Dollars to 30,000 US Dollars per annum is still "cheap".

Unbelievable. o_O

Japan's compulsory education is 9 years (from 6 years old to 15 years old).
Still, tuition fees are expensive.

By younger brother's public junior high school takes a tuition fee of about 1,000 US Dollars per annum,
The redeeming feature is that the people who can't afford it can ask for a financial aid to Education Committee in every local government.

No, not everyone can do that.
The people must have passed the qualification of household's annual income of less than 20,000 US Dollars or something.
hehehe...

It's amazing that although schools take so much tuition fees,
children's parents pay that expensive tuition fee with or without wondering.

Yeah, the schools which take expensive tuition fees EXISTS,
because there are people who pay it.

Nevertheless,
education is a compulsory for children,
but not for adults.

Disregard the price,
Higher education have a right to take a tuition fee.

And as long as they provide a "high-quality" education,
the "expensive" tuition fee is reasonable.

Question:
What should a student without much money do?
Well, there are some general answers here:

1. Stop studying and work.
2. Work while studying.
3. Study extremely hard, and go to a "cheap" public school.
4. Study extremely hard, win a scholarship, and pay back after graduation.
5. Student loan.

And many more...

And my choice is to "work first, save money and go to school". ^_^

Vote! (of course in Japan)

The bill of postal privatization has rejected.

Actually, it passed in the House of Representatives on July, but rejected in the House of Councilors on August.
And Koizumi said that when the bill is rejected, they will dissolve the House of Representatives.
Hence, the election will be held on September 11, 2005.

Koizumi is the party leader of the "Liberal Democratic Party" (LDP), which is the ruling party together with the "Clean Government Party".
Koizumi also pushes the bill of postal privatization.

But there are some members of the LDP who had voted against the bill, like Watanuki or Kamei.
Koizumi didn't allow them to run as a member of the LDP, thus they seceded.
They formed a new party, the "New National Party", Watanuki as the party leader.

Anyway the New National Party is unable to rule the government in everybody eyes, Koizumi decided to put candidates against them in each electoral district, and they called "assassins".

One of the most popular assassin, against Kamei is Horie, the president of the company "Livedoor", who had secured the business tie-up with Fuji TV.

He supports Koizumi reformation, but he runs for election independently of any party.
He is so popular in the economic world, and this is his new challenge.

Of course, I should not forget of the biggest opposition party, the Democratic Party.
Okada, the party leader, says that the postal privatization isn't the only point at issue, like problem on pension, and aims to come into power.

He has to say so, because public opinion says that about 70% of the people supports postal privatization, and Democratic Party can't support, since they are the opposition party.

Or do they rather want to say, "Privatization is good, but Koizumi reformation is not."?

Interesting thing is that both Koizumi and Okada say that they will resign the position if they can't get at least 50% of the seats.

Of course, there are other minor parties, but to mention about them makes the story too long.
So forgive me to omit.

...

So what?
What I want to say is that this election will be so exciting!
It's rare in the history of Japan.

I hope I had a suffrage...

And I also hope that many people will vote in this election,
since Japan has extremely light vote.