Key Facts
• February 2024: Ministry of Education investigates cheating in licensing exams.
• Sapporo vocational school allowed model answers during exams for credits.
• Students copied answers to pass kindergarten teacher licensing tests.
• Investigation extended to a related junior college in Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Administrative guidance issued to the junior college for improper practices.
• Model answer usage banned by the junior college after the investigation.
• Many vocational school students were also enrolled in the junior college’s correspondence program.
Summary
The Ministry of Education has taken action against improper practices in kindergarten teacher licensing exams. A vocational school in Sapporo allowed students to bring and copy model answers during exams, enabling them to earn credits without proper evaluation. Following an investigation in February 2024, similar issues were identified at a related junior college in Kanagawa Prefecture. Administrative guidance was issued to the junior college, which subsequently banned the use of model answers. Many students from the vocational school were also enrolled in the junior college’s correspondence program. These measures aim to ensure fairness and integrity in the licensing process.
