Early Value Based Learning in Japan Ignites Global Conversation

Goa Teachers speak on Japan’s no early exam policy.

Education in Japan is not about marks, it is about raising responsible individuals according to the educators and policymakers. Children do not have any formal academic exams until standard 4 that is around age 10. This unique philosophy has recently found renewed interest across several verified instagram, facebook and linkedIn posts. It has reignited discussions around Japan’s approach to a value based study in the initial years of formal education.

According to these posts Japan’s students are more kind and polite as they grow, resulting in an empathic and disciplined behavior. Their academic learning has also been said to have become more meaningful. They are said to participate in activities such as cleaning their classroom and surroundings that teach them to be responsible citizens. Several influencers share that upon walking wearing just white socks in the streets of Tokyo remain clean even after a ten minute walk. This they believe is a result of this value based education.

Children are encouraged to explore, ask questions and work together. A respectful and co-operative behaviour development is seen as important as reading stories and solving mathematical problems. Their aim ultimately is to build character.

Some Goan schools also practice a similar method. Stella Dsouza, a teacher from Manovikas shared “We don’t conduct exams till class 7. It reduces the pressure to mug up lessons and helps us access students through projects, orals, and assignments instead.” This is an ideal approach as it allows teachers to truly understand how students learn and where they need guidance. They can learn independently without any stress or expectation of marks weighing their heads.

Another Goan educator Utkarsha Munj from Shivraj Maratha Medium School, Zarap, Sindhudurg reacted positively to Japan’s idea, saying “it’s a good initiative as it applauds their creativity. We need just the right teachers and proper management for it to work here in Goa too.” She added that while exams help track progress, it checks progress of memory and schools should instead track their daily performance. She believes as educators and mature individuals one should not be too hard on a child as “everyone has a different capacity.”