DPJ to extend teacher training program to 6 years

Thursday 27th August, 12:47 PM JST

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franda at 10:27 PM JST - 27th August

A laudable idea from the incoming governing party.Japan need serious reforms to transform her outdated policies employed in the 50s and still in use in the 21st century.One of the areas that need critical assesment is their educational system.I agree with the DPJ on many proposals it intends pursuing especially with the 1 year internship program and extending educational accessibilty by building more educational centers. However, I disagree with the 6 year program.What the 6 years means is that for every teacher in Japan regardless of the grade he or she teaches must hold a masters degree.My disagreement may stem from the fact that my society thinks different.If this proposal is implemented ,what it will mean is there would be a large influx of master degree holders who perhaps maybe teaching in the elementary school.There is a psychological and societal ramifications to this idea. These masters degree teachers will soon find out that they are above what they are teaching and that can spark a wave of internal movement of people to other industries for greener pastures.Whilst their aim is to seek for quality ,retention should be prime.Japan is a capitalist state and workers can leave voluntarily if they so wish unless their service is restrictive. What I would propose is for the incoming administration to provide more training programs for the teachers like they have espoused and increase teachers disciplinary powers in the classroom.Many of the kids dont even respect the teachers owing to the disciplinary limitations placed on them by the educational authorities.Let the teachers discipline these Japanese eggs before they get rotten.We should ask why the young folks today seek gratification only through entertainment and are not ready to work hard to sustain the Japanese economy instead they have turned themselves into professional buskers and I wonder how much they earn.
larguero at 10:27 PM JST - 27th August

I think this will generate that less people want to become teachers. Being 4,5,6 or 10 years at university doesnt matter if students are not incentived to learn and stricter evaluation processes are put in place.
biglittleman at 11:46 PM JST - 27th August

No matter what happens to the education the Japanese students will come out on top. They are quite capable because they use both sides of their brain! ;)
usaexpat at 01:39 AM JST - 28th August

Graduate school to teach elementary kids? You've got to be kidding, this is only a win for universities and a waste of time for future teachers.
wontond at 03:19 AM JST - 28th August

They should spend a good portion of the extra 2 years to train the male teachers how not to be a bunch of perverts.
biglittleman at 04:30 AM JST - 28th August

They she also spend that extra two years teaching Japanese English teachers to actually speak English properly. Make them live abroad for two years as requirement for their teaching license.
JmannGod at 05:06 AM JST - 28th August

These are very good moves and in line with the most advanced ideas in pedagogy.

Sadly, a great deal of gaijin in Japan consider themselves 'teachers'. They are not! They assists with language training. A proper teacher requires a strong degree, post graduate study in pedagogy and a reflective time pre- and just post service. Moves in that direction are to be applauded.

In some parts of the world only the top 10% of graduates are invited to be teachers - that of course is to be encouraged, and the best way to encourage that, is through better remuneration packages. Hopefully, that will be next for Japanese teachers.

Advanced degrees for administration positions is a well-overdue and thouroughkly excellent idea. Well done DPJ　I will insist my Japanese wife gets out and casts her overseas ballot in your favour (and you thought we gaijin couldn't vote ...mhhuhahahahhhhhaaa!!!!)
biglittleman at 06:05 AM JST - 28th August

@JmannGod,

Sadly, a great deal of gaijin in Japan consider themselves 'teachers'. They are not!

It seems like Western foreigners (some with degrees and not) will have to give up teaching and start working in the sweatshops like the other immigrants from third world countries.

At the same time the ones with advances teaching degrees will be fighting over the limited teaching positions with lower salaries and no benefits which has been the trend for the past 6-7 years. Since the eikawa bubble burst. All the crap that plagued the industry has just transferred to public schools and is not just floating up all the way to the university level.
sharky1 at 06:42 AM JST - 28th August

It's about the same requirements as for teachers in the US. Further, Japan has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Can't really argue with success, and now they are trying to make it better...Good job!
Disillusioned at 07:28 AM JST - 28th August

Cicada - it's good that Japanese schools don't waste money on computers, which everyone has at home and in their cell phone.

What an insightful comment this is! Obviously, you only use computers for for networking with your proxy friends.
Simon_Foston at 08:24 AM JST - 28th August

We'll know when Japanese schools work when Jukus no longer exist.

Absolutely right. I think the major problem is not how the teachers are being trained, but the whole way the curriculum works, or rather fails to work. There needs to be major reform of the whole university entrance exam system, so that universities accept students purely on the basis on what they have learned at high school, and so that as students get older they can focus on and specialize in the subjects they need for university entrance and want to make a career out of. Unfortunately, as the jukus have become big business I'm fairly certain that politicians will be scared to do anything that dents their profits, never mind that the DPJ would be better off using the money for this extended teacher training program to hire some of the people working in jukus and get them in the public school system instead.
Osakadaz at 09:10 AM JST - 28th August

post-grad studies needed to teach?? err.. no.What teachers usually need is a good role-model teacher to help them do what they have already studied at university better.The best way to be a better teacher is to actually teach.I say that as a qualified teacher.
tmarie at 02:46 PM JST - 28th August

Well it will get rid of the folks that are no able to do anything so go into teaching but I would suggest they make them spend a year student teaching. As it stands they only do three weeks and only have to teach 6 classes in those three weeks.

To be honest the whole system is a mess and they need to just start over and get rid of the crappy teachers. However, the teachers union is too strong to do this.
Cicada at 05:37 PM JST - 28th August

Disillusioned:

What an insightful comment this is! Obviously, you only use computers for for networking with your proxy friends.

What should be obvious is that a computer does not need to be located in a classroom to serve an educational purpose. Equally clear is that though you can have no idea that I use my computer for "networking" you nonetheless make such an unfounded assertion.

This is precisely the kind of uncritical thinking that is fostered by an over-reliance on technology in the classroom, so thank you for the nice illustration.
illsayit at 04:48 PM JST - 29th August

I think the younger teachers need the 2 years practical experience, their knowledge being sufficient, their social skills still needing tuning-and especially about Elementary level. Also how to handle the classroom atmosphere, and confidence. Though I would also add, this is one avenue of learning, which I dont think ought to be confused with discipline. Government licensed teachers ought to be taught that as well, that their form of education is one style amongst many.