Education in Japan & the world

 16 October - Week 5

______________

Today we have learned about school systems in Japan. The school systems aren't really different as the Netherlands but there are some differences. In Japan, the school system is structured and discipline focused compared to the Netherlands. Students wear uniforms, clean their classrooms themselves, and show strong respect for teachers and senior students. School days are longer, and many students attend extra lessons or 'cram schools' after regular classes. Education in Japan is more group-oriented, with an emphasis on harmony, effort, and collective success. In the Netherlands, schools are generally more relaxed and individual-focused, students can express their opinions freely, there’s less hierarchy, and the atmosphere is more informal. Dutch students also have more free time and focus on a healthy balance between school and personal life. But still, both Japan and the Netherlands value education highly and follow a similar structure of primary, secondary, and higher education, aiming to prepare students for future success.

School clubs are much more popular in Japan because they are an important part of student life, helping students build teamwork, discipline, and friendships outside regular classes. In the Netherlands, school clubs are not very common because most students prefer to do sports or hobbies independently, often outside of school. Cram schools are very popular in Japan, where many students attend them after regular school hours to improve their grades or prepare for entrance exams. In the Netherlands we also have extra classes for subjects we struggle with, but these are usually offered by the school right after lessons or through private tutoring, which can be quite expensive. Sometimes teachers voluntarily give extra help before exams, but it is not as common or organized as Japan's cram school system.

The video at the end of the class showed a day in the life of a Japanese student. There were many similarities with Dutch students, such as the way they go to school, study, and learn during the day. One difference I noticed was that Dutch classes usually have at least half-full classrooms, while in the video there were only two students in the class. Also, in the Netherlands, students have more freedom to decide whether to attend classes or stay home, especially in higher education. 

'This means that I always go to school and never skip classes' - Mamend, 2025



Reacties

  1. Hayden20 oktober 2025 om 23:12

    Good summary of what we discussed in class. You mentioned that "Dutch classes usually have at least half-full classrooms," is this true for all classes? Even 4th year classes? Does this happen because lectures will be cancelled if they do not meet a certain threshold of participants?

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  2. Hristiyan20 oktober 2025 om 23:15

    As an honorary student in The Netherlands I can safely say… DUTCH EDUCATION IS BASED 🗣️🗣️🔥

    BeantwoordenVerwijderen

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