Education System in Japan

The education system in Hong Kong and Japan are more or less the same, but still there are some differences.

1. Basic School System

In Hong Kong, we have kindergarten, primary school, secondary schools, colleges and universities. We also have tutorials schools which helps students to prepare for their public exams. Secondary schools in Hong Kong do not separate into middle and high schools, so students do not have to take the high school exams. And unlike the cram schools in Japan, the tutorial schools in Hong Kong do not only prepare students for public exams, it also helps students to have a better understanding of subjects that they are not good at. There are many tutorial classes for various subjects, for example Chinese, English, Mathematics, Economics, and Geography etc.

As the education system in Hong Kong has just changed recently, so students now only have to take one public exams for entering the universities. Unlike that in the old time, students had to take two public exams within three years, which was quite hard and toilsome.

2. Subjects studied

Most of the subjects that we have in schools of Hong Kong are the same as that in Japan, except for English. In Hong Kong, students start learning English in kindergarten, and would continue studying English in primary and secondary schools, and of course in colleges and universities as well. But in Japan, English learning is not started until students have entered the middle schools.

3. Uniforms

All schools in Hong Kong, including all kindergarten, primary school and secondary schools (except for very few international schools), students have to wear school uniforms. In most of the school, especially for those which are famous and have high reputations, there are a rather strict standard in wearing uniforms. For instance for girls, the dress’s length must reach the knees. Also, girls’ hair must be tie up properly. Overall, you cannot be too outstanding in your outlook and hair style, or else you may have broken the school rules. However, I have found that the dress codes in Japan’s schools are not as strict as that in Hong Kong. At least students can freely have their own hair styles, and the girls can wear shorter dress or skirts. JFurthermore, the uniforms in Japan are much smarter and prettier than that in Hong Kong! It would be great if our uniforms can have the similar designs as that of the uniforms in Japanese schools!

4. Activities in schools

The biggest difference between school in Hong Kong and Japan is that there are rarely any school festivals in Hong Kong. Unlike the Japanese schools, schools in Hong Kong will not open to the public or students from other schools unless the school is in certain special occasions such as school anniversaries. I think it is great that there are school festivals in Japan because students can gather together to organize various interesting activities and shows, which I deem that students will enjoy a lot from that process!

In Hong Kong, students also have afterschool activities, or we will say we are joining a club or a society. But in some schools having afterschool activities is not compulsory, so sometimes some students may miss the chance of participating in extra-curricular activities, which can help them to meet more friends and find out their own interests.

Sport Day is usually held in most schools in Hong Kong, the events are more or less the same, except that we do not have the event ‘Three-legged race’.

JAfterthoughtsJ

I think if I have such a chance (which it is impossible XD) I would like to try studying the primary and secondary schools in Japan. The reasons are as follows:

i) The schedule of the primary school is not that tight, and students can have more time to do their homework or revisions, or participating in different extra-curricular activities. Unlike that in Hong Kong, students in Hong Kong often have to spend so many times in school and also the school works, and they have to take a lot of extra-curricular activities which are not for relaxation or interests, but for gaining certificates and scores for later secondary schools’ admissions.

ii) School festivals are great because students can help organizing different event, activities and shows for the visitors, and I think that there would be more team-spirits between students. It is just disappointing that schools in Hong Kong do not usually hold this kind of events.

iii) It is an once-in-a-lifetime chance that if I can try wearing the uniforms in Japanese High schools because they look smarter and prettier, plus there are less restrictions in wearing uniforms in Japanese schools!