It was interesting for me to learn that all junior high school high students pass. They are all eligible to go to high school. The question is in what school a student will be accepted. In the Philippines, students can choose in what public high school they can go to. In Japan, a lot of factors are considered.
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| Japanese high school students PHOTO CREDIT: http://regex.info/blog/2008-07-03/856 |
1. A student choose his schools based on what type of career track he wants
I learned that high schools in Japan are largely tied up with colleges or universities. A student can choose his school for HS based on what career he's preparing for. High schools are like preparatory schools for university level. My Japanese cousin studied in a high school dedicated to the arts because she wanted to be a hair stylist and fashion designer. I've worked in a high school in Iwate where they have a Physical Education track for future professional athletes. I also subbed for a school in Tokyo where they have business classes for those planning to go to business.
2. Teachers can make or break a student's application to high school
For the past month, the third year teachers in my school are very busy. They are doing all the necessary reports and paper works for students to enter high school. The teachers' recommendations and given grades will matter a lot if a student can get into the the high school he wants. So in effect your performance in JHS will still matter. High achievers will have more school choices than low achievers.
3. The high school can decide to accept or reject a student
Public high schools can accept or reject a student's application. This is unlike in the Philippines where anybody can go to a public high school. The only reason a high school will reject a student is overpopulation. If this happens, the only option for a student is by enrolling to a private school. This happened to one of my students. He's generally a good kid but very unmotivated. His grades are so low that no public high school would like to accept him. He has to go a private school in the countryside to enter high school.
I realized that how this system teaches a great deal about consequences of one's actions. It's like sure you can exist or survive whether you're good or bad. (In this case, whether a student performs well or not.) But in the end, those who persevere and do well will still have the greatest rewards. (That is, they will have an easier time getting into high school.)
