2021 Volume 45 Issue 4 Pages 375-383
This research examines Super Science High Schools (SSH) as sites for gifted education. These schools represent the only government program in Japanese formal education explicitly aiming to foster the development of excellence in STEM subjects. Interview data with teachers from 3 SSH schools and a representative of a prefectural board of education, and annual reports of the schools and publications by JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency), are analyzed through the concept of educational capital of the actiotope-model. Results show the strengths of the program being in 1) the social educational capital in the form of strong network of cooperative institutions, and key personnel within and beyond the schools and 2) cultural educational capital that enables paying special attention to selected students. Infrastructural and economic educational capital help create learning opportunities, but the rigidity of the system and cultural ideas on ‘proper education’ can hinder the creation of individual learning pathways needed to achieve excellence. This relates to how teachers need to negotiate their ideas of meritocracy and equal outcomes with expectations to aim for excellence. Didactic educational capital concerning teachers’ competencies on guiding research activities and STEAM activities can be seen as key development areas.
