Key Facts
• Government plans to introduce a dual application system for public high schools by 2027.
• Initiative aims to address declining enrollment in public schools.
• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba instructed the Ministry of Education and Digital Agency to explore implementation.
• Concerns arise over potential ranking of schools based on test scores.
• Tokyo and Osaka’s tuition-free private high school policies have increased private school popularity.
• Public high schools in these regions face under-enrollment issues.
• Ministry of Education fears digital ranking systems may overshadow school diversity and individuality.
• Officials highlight challenges in quantifying student individuality and preserving school uniqueness.
Summary
The Japanese government is considering introducing a dual application system for public high school entrance exams by 2027 to counter declining public school enrollment. This move follows the rise in private school popularity, particularly in Tokyo and Osaka, where tuition-free policies for private schools have been implemented. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has directed the Ministry of Education and the Digital Agency to explore this initiative. However, concerns persist about the potential for ranking schools based on test scores, which could undermine the diversity and individuality of public schools. Education officials emphasize the difficulty of quantifying student individuality and maintaining school uniqueness in a standardized system.
