Despite Japan’s rapidly dwindling school population, the government says it will not lower the maximum class size from 40 pupils per class, due to the cost, writes Michael Fitzpatrick.
Japan spends a mere 3.5 per cent of GDP on education compared to an average of 5.1 per cent in other developed countries.
Parents and teachers had been demanding smaller class sizes in line with other industrialised countries. Primary classes average 26.6 pupils: junior high classes for ages 12-17 average 34 pupils.
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