B 4 very good C 3 good D 2 minimum pass F 1 fail EDUCATION SYSTEM
Educational institutions in Japan can be divided into three categories according to their source of funding: national – financed by central government; public – financed by local government (prefectures, municipalities); and private – financed by private organisations. Around a third of senior high school students attend private schools, while three-quarters of undergraduates are at private universities. Entrance to national high schools and universities is generally competitive, while the academic level of both public and private schools and universities varies widely.
Compulsory education in Japan comprises six years of primary school (from age six), and three years of lower secondary school, finishing at 15. However, 98% of students continue on to upper secondary education. They take an entrance exam that determines the level of upper secondary school that they enter. After three years, they graduate with the internally assessed Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho).
Students who did not complete upper secondary school can take the Certificate for Students Achieving the Proficiency Level of Upper Secondary School Graduates (or Konin – this qualification replaces the former Daiken), which makes them eligible to take the entrance examinations for Japanese universities. It is thus of an equivalent level to the upper secondary school leaving certificate.
Students at upper secondary school have some choice regarding the subjects they study, but generally cover a much broader curriculum than their counterparts in the UK. English became compulsory from the third grade of primary school in 2011. However, classes are taught by the homeroom teacher who does not necessarily have any specialist training in language teaching. A foreign language (usually English) remains compulsory up to undergraduate level.
Reforms have introduced some schools that offer integrated lower and upper secondary education within one institution, amended curricular content to include elective elements and reduced the school week to five days instead of six. The aims of these reforms were to create a more flexible learning environment, to broaden the scope of the curriculum and to foster greater independence. However, curriculum content has recently been increased again in many subjects, amid fears that standards are falling. The Fundamental Law of Education was revised in December 2006, for the first time in over 50 years. ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Applicants to national and public universities (Daigaku) in Japan are expected to have successfully completed 12 years of school education, attained an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate and taken a preliminary entrance examination, the National Centre for University Entrance Examination (‘CentreTest’), as well as taking the entrance examinations of individual institutions. Some, but not all, private universities also require applicants to take the National Centre for University Entrance Examination as a preliminary examination. The scores obtained in these entrance examinations are accorded more importance than school grades by universities. However, there is a growing range of alternative entrance methods such as recommendation by high schools or ‘AO’ (admissions office) under which applicants effectively recommend themselves. Currently, about 40% of applicants use this route and so do not have to take an entrance examination.
Most universities operate an American-style grades and credit-based system, leading to a four-year first degree (Gakushi).
Junior college associate degree courses (Jun-Gakushi) last two years. Vocational degrees (Senmon-shi) at vocational colleges also last two years. These two qualifications are considered to be of comparable level and holders of either are eligible in Japan for entrance to the third year of a four-year degree course in a related subject.
Jordan
This entry was reviewed for the 2015 qualifications guide. EVALUATION
Tawjihi (General Secondary Education Certificate) Acceptable at 60% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (except English language). Would need to be supplemented by GCE A levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, or a bridging course.
GRADING SYSTEM
Percentage scale with the minimum pass mark shown on the transcript.
EDUCATION SYSTEM
There are 10 years of compulsory education in Jordan, six at primary level and four at lower secondary. This may be followed by two years of secondary education. The General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi) is taken at the end of year 12. Instruction is in Arabic but English language is compulsory from year 1 of basic education.
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
University admission in Jordan is on the basis of the General Secondary Education Certificate at a minimum standard set annually. Much of the university teaching is in the medium of English. The first degree is credit-based and usually lasts for four years.
Kazakhstan
This entry was reviewed for the 2015 qualifications guide. EVALUATION
Attestat/Svidetel’ stvo o Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education)
Acceptable (if taken at grade 11) in lieu of GCSE (grades A*–C)/Credit Standard Grades on a subject for subject basis (except English language).
GRADING SYSTEM
5 excellent
4 good
3 satisfactory/minimum pass
2 unsatisfactory
Edinyi Natsional’nyi Test – ENT (Unified National Test, UNT)
Edinyi Natsional’nyi Test (Unified National Test) is a way of independent unified evaluation of secondary school graduates across the country (since March 2004). It is compulsory for all school graduates who are intending to apply for higher education in Kazakhstan, as it serves as both graduation from secondary school and a higher education entry test.
There are five subjects, including four compulsory subjects: Kazakh and Russian language, history of Kazakhstan and mathematics, and one from the following selection (which depends on the area of specialism of the higher education course, given in brackets): geography (economics), biology (medicine), physics (engineering), world history (law), chemistry (science), literature (philology) or foreign language (international related subjects).
A maximum of 100 points can be gained (each course worth 25 points and Kazakh not being counted). Currently for admission to national universities a minimum score of 70 is required; other universities in Kazakhstan require a score of 50.
The UNT is scored from 0–100; this is then converted to a grade of 2–5 which is subsequently amalgamated into the Attestat.
EDUCATION SYSTEM
The system consists of primary, secondary (lower secondary and complete secondary) and HE. The nine-year education period, covering primary and lower secondary, is compulsory between the ages of six and 15. In practice many parents prefer that their children start school at the age of seven. Secondary education is provided by general, vocational and specialised secondary schools. Lower secondary education takes five years, on completion of which, students are awarded the Basic Secondary Education Certificate.
Following lower secondary education, students may proceed to upper secondary school level or to vocational school. Courses at upper secondary education last two years, leading to the Attestat/Svidetel’ stvo o Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of General Secondary Education, upon completion of 11 years of education). The government of Kazakhstan plans to introduce an additional year into upper secondary education, which means that secondary education will consist of 12 years of study. A number of selected schools around the country have been piloting the new system. This qualification, together with Edinyi Natsional’nyi Test or ENT (Unified National Test) in four subjects, gains access to HE in Kazakhstan. Successful completion of vocational training is considered an alternative means of completing secondary education and leads to a diploma. Students can also progress to secondary specialised education. Specialised education courses last between two and four years, on completion of which, students are awarded the Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii (Diploma of Specialised Secondary Education).
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
HE is provided at universities, polytechnics/technical institutes etc – 124 overall as of 1 March 2014. Admission to HEPs (VUZ) in Kazakhstan is based on the results of Unified National Tests (described above) and the completion of secondary education or the equivalent vocational/specialist training.
Under the former system, the initial qualification, Diplom, was usually completed in five years. Under the new system, a Bakalavr (bachelor’s) degree is awarded after four years of study (142–148 credits). Master’s degrees are awarded following a further one to two years of study (36 to 47 credits) depending on the subject. For technical/engineering courses, the higher education degree is often called Diploma-Specialist and takes five years to complete. Medical courses are six years long, and the Diploma-Specialist is also awarded. This is usually followed by one year of clinical Ordinatura (practice), which, together with Diploma-Specialist, gives the right to work as a doctor. A PhD is normally three years and is equivalent to 66 credits.
Kenya
This entry was last reviewed prior to 2010. EVALUATION
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Considered to be between GCSE and GCE A level provided a pass of C or above is achieved.
See also Overseas examinations of UK awarding organisations (Appendix A).
GRADING SYSTEM