Spring Break
Japan tries to catch up to Indian education
Oza, Mihir
Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: Ed-Op
Post World War II, Japan has been the prideful economic superpower a few continents over. Japan's carried the aura of threat and mastership, due to its mathematical authoritarianism over the globe.
However, with today's intense competition in most aspects of schooling, it has driven not only the technological leader ahead, but also its Asian rivals, China and India.
Japan had once stared down at these two emerging third world countries, with its technological ego and within the past few decades, a phenomenal economic growth, only to be deceived by India and China's crave to usurp the fundamental areas of knowledge.
Japan now envies the world's largest democracy, India, for its leading standard of education beginning from grade school, growth in financial strength and adaptation of western ways. India's school system is ideal, and there's a reason they're creating millions of skilled minds, far ahead of other students their own age.
Various Indian newspapers acknowledge their teachers and schools disciplining their students from age three and on. A popular grade school, the Little Angels Kindergarten in India, has their "two-year-old pupils count to 20, three-year-olds introduced to computers, and five-year-olds learn to multiply," according to a recent New York Times article. These little geniuses are learning the tricks of the trade, while the rest of the world's sophisticated and powerful countries' children are playing in the sand. There is no doubt then, that rigorous discipline from a tender age works.
Embarrassed, and willing to make a change, Japan is ready to adapt India's emphasis on memorization, and focus on math and science. India has made all the right steps toward their present success, while Japan has fallen back in ranks.
Formally first place in mathematics and second in science, these ranks have suffered to 10th and sixth, respectively. Japanese forums and talk shows have taken on a new habit of discussing Indian education, while international Indian schools in Japan are hastily receiving Japanese student applications. For example, the Global Indian International School in Tokyo once encompassed merely 10 percent Japanese students, but the new demand from Japanese parents has allowed the establishment of new campuses.
However, with today's intense competition in most aspects of schooling, it has driven not only the technological leader ahead, but also its Asian rivals, China and India.
Japan had once stared down at these two emerging third world countries, with its technological ego and within the past few decades, a phenomenal economic growth, only to be deceived by India and China's crave to usurp the fundamental areas of knowledge.
Japan now envies the world's largest democracy, India, for its leading standard of education beginning from grade school, growth in financial strength and adaptation of western ways. India's school system is ideal, and there's a reason they're creating millions of skilled minds, far ahead of other students their own age.
Various Indian newspapers acknowledge their teachers and schools disciplining their students from age three and on. A popular grade school, the Little Angels Kindergarten in India, has their "two-year-old pupils count to 20, three-year-olds introduced to computers, and five-year-olds learn to multiply," according to a recent New York Times article. These little geniuses are learning the tricks of the trade, while the rest of the world's sophisticated and powerful countries' children are playing in the sand. There is no doubt then, that rigorous discipline from a tender age works.
Embarrassed, and willing to make a change, Japan is ready to adapt India's emphasis on memorization, and focus on math and science. India has made all the right steps toward their present success, while Japan has fallen back in ranks.
Formally first place in mathematics and second in science, these ranks have suffered to 10th and sixth, respectively. Japanese forums and talk shows have taken on a new habit of discussing Indian education, while international Indian schools in Japan are hastily receiving Japanese student applications. For example, the Global Indian International School in Tokyo once encompassed merely 10 percent Japanese students, but the new demand from Japanese parents has allowed the establishment of new campuses.
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Mahajan
posted 1/12/08 @ 3:49 AM EST
There are some strengths in the Indian system, but I suspect the Japanese fad is also something to do with the English language.
The Indian 'system' (I don't mean the education system in isolation though) has some weaknesses. (Continued…)
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