Christian Science Monitor:
Japan’s juken, or “exam hell,” has long evoked images of stressed kids competing for slots at top universities in an all-or-nothing exam. But this approach has increasingly moved down the ladder.
Now, in what is known as ojuken, nursery-schoolers are doing worksheets and attending special classes to secure a seat in primary school that their parents hope will ensure their long-term success.
The reasons for the shift are complex. Japan’s youth population is declining, and many colleges are scrambling to fill seats – something that should make it easier to get into all but the most exclusive schools.
. . . At Nikken, most families enroll children for two years and typically spend $22,000 on tuition.
