Vocational education and training (VET) is a major policy topic for countries all over the world, who are eager to learn from the best examples where participation in VET is high and youth unemployment is low. Policymakers want to know how strong VET systems manage challenges like rapid technological change, matching labor market demand for…

Reviews two recent books that place the discussion of Japanese education within the social and psychological context of Japanese culture. One book depicts Japanese society's commitment to children; the other explores conceptual and empirical issues related to U.S.-Japanese comparative studies in child development. (RH)

This paper notes the proliferation of literature about the characteristics of Japanese education and culture. Generalizations ranging from reports of remarkable progress in subject disciplines to praise of Japanese technology, social and individual behavior, and systematic accomplishments have been cited. It is contended in this study that some of…

In order to appraise the usefulness of instructional television (ITV) as the core component in instructional systems designed to meet the special needs of the educationally disadvantaged children of migrant farm workers, American Indians, and the inner-city poor, a study was made of the use of ITV programs to meet similar needs in other countries.…

This description of popular private educational system in Japan, the Kumon Method, focuses on instruction in arithmetic for primary school students. Highlights include the educational philosophy of the system, instructor training, acceptance by parents, and use of the system as a model for educational systems of the future. (LRW)