Japanese High School Special Entrance Examination System for Foreign Students

Focusing on Tochigi prefecture as case study

Abstract

  This paper discusses the situation of foreign students after junior high school graduation in Japan. Considering the difficulties foreigners have to face if they wish to enter high school and their insufficient Japanese-language ability, some prefectures have implemented special-entrance-examination procedures to support them. In spite of the importance of this research topic, there is a lack of studies assessing its effect on foreign students’ academic achievements after junior high school graduation. This paper aims at filling the gap in the academic literature. First, this paper attempts to shed light on the current situation of the special entrance examination system nationwide. Second, it addresses the particular case of Tochigi prefecture. According to a survey conducted in Tochigi prefecture on March 2011 and March 2012, 80% of the targeted sample successfully entered high school. The total sample comprised 269 students, who graduated in March 2011 and March 2012. Although this percentage was much larger than expected, there were very few students who could benefit from the privileges of the special entrance examination in Tochigi prefecture. Particularly, Brazilian and Peruvian students, due to their protracted period of residence in Japan, were not able to meet the “within the first 3 years after entering Japan” requirement, and consequently, they could not take advantage of the benefits offered by the special entrance examination system.