KYOTO CITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

Ⅱ Starting a New Life

6. Education

6-1 Japanese Education System

The Japanese education system is basically comprised of 6 years of elementary school, 3 years at junior high school, 3 years at senior high school and 4 years at university (or 2 years at junior college). Among these, elementary school and junior high school are compulsory. Entrance to high school and university is, in principle, decided by an admissions examination. There are also colleges and schools for mainly junior and senior high school graduates that teach technical and occupational skills. There are national schools managed by the state, public schools managed by prefectures, cities, wards, town and villages and private schools managed by school foundations. The school year begins in April and continues until March the following year.

6-2 Kindergarten

Prior to entering elementary school, children between the ages of 3 and 6 years enter kindergarten.

Public Kindergartens

In Kyoto City, there are 16 kindergartens (as of Oct. 2006). Children between the ages of 4 and 5 years can attend (some kindergartens also accept 3 year-olds). As kindergartens are located throughout Kyoto City, the district of residency determines which kindergarten children can attend.

Kyoto City Board of Education School Guidance Division Primary Education Subsection (222-3806

(Kyoto-shi Kyoiku Iinkai Gakko Shido-ka Shoto-kyoiku-gakari)

Private Kindergartens

Kyoto Private Kindergartens Association (257-0375

(Kyoto-shi Shiritsu Yochien Kyokai)

For information on private kindergartens located in Kyoto Citycheck the following web site on the Internet.

The Federation of Kyoto PrefecturePrivate Kindergartens Association (Office)(Kyoto-fu Shiritsu Yochien Renmei) (344-0771

http://web/kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/kyo-yoh/

6-3 Elementary, Junior and Senior High School Education

Elementary / Junior-high School

Textbooks are free of charge in elementary and junior high schools. School lunchesare provided for all elementary school students. The cost is \3,600. In junior high schools, students choose between bringing their own lunch, or eating school lunch for the course of one month. School lunch is available for the price of \260 per day. In case of financial difficulty, it is possible to receive financial aid from the School Aid System (Shugaku-enjo). Please do not hesitate to ask your teacher.

The Kyoto CityBoard of Education Student Guidance Division

(Kyoto-shi Kyoiku Iinkai Seito Shido-ka) (222-3817

◆Foreign children attending Japanese schools

While attendance at elementary and junior high school is compulsory for Japanese children, foreign children have no legal obligation to attend. However, foreign children can enroll by going through the necessary application procedures.

uEnrollment procedures for Japanese schools

① When you register as a foreign resident at the Ward or Branch Office of the district in which you live, mention that your child plans to study at a Japanese school, and obtain a Transfer Notice. (Tennyugaku Tsuchisyo)

② At the same time you will be told the name of a school and its address where your child can enroll.

③ Go to the school and hand in the transfer notice. You will be given an Enrollment Notification for Foreigners (Gaikokujin shugakutodoke) from the school. Fill it out and return it.

Kyoto City Board of Education Investigation Division (Kyoto-shi Kyoiku Iinkai Chousa-ka) (222-3772

◆When your child cannot speak Japanese

Children who cannot speak Japanese very well are able to get Japanese language guidance at school.

Kyoto City Board of Education, Education School Guidance Section (Kyoto-shi Kyoiku Iinkai Gakko Shido-ka) (222-3815

Senior High School

Senior high school education is not compulsory in Japan.There are national, public and private senior high schools, and they offer a varied curriculum. For high school enrollment, students must have received the equivalent of a Japanese junior high school education.

◆For enrollment applications to public senior high schools

Kyoto City Board of Education School Guidance Division (Kyoto-shi Kyoiku Iinkai Gakko Shido-ka) (222-3808

Kyoto Prefecture Board of Education Secondary School Education Section (Kyoto-fu Kyoiku Iinkai Koko-kyoiku-ka) (414-5852

6-4 International Schools

In Kyoto, there are international schools which teach classes in English, French, Korean, and North Korean dialect. International schools fall under the “Miscellaneous” category of the School Education Law. The graduates of these international schools might not be allowed to take entrance examinations at some Japanese Universities. Depending on the international school, students who have graduated can obtain qualifications to enroll in certain Japanese universities and graduate schools. Inquire at the international school for more details.

School Name	Address	Telephone
Kyoto International School	317 Kita Tawara-machi, Nakatatiuri-sagaru, Yoshiyamachi-dori, Kamigyo-ku	451-1022
ECOLE FRANCAISE DU KANSAI (Kansai France Gakuin)	536-1 Waraya-cho, Kuromon Higashi-iru, Marutamachi-dori, Kamigyo-ku	812-7015
Educational Foundation Kyoto Korean School (Kyoto Chosen Gakuen) Kyoto Korean Junior High and High School	1 Toyama-cho, Kita-Shirakawa, Sakyo-ku	791-1131
Kyoto First Korean Beginner’s School, Kindergarten Annex	23 Kanjinbashi, Kamitoba, Minami-ku	691-1186
Kyoto Second Korean Beginner’s Middle School, Kindergarten Annex	3 Shirimizo-cho, Umezu, Sakyo-ku	861-0608
Kyoto Third Beginner’s Korean School, Kindergarten Annex	41 Kagamiishi-machi, Kinugasa, Kita-ku	491-4468
Educational Foundation Kyoto International School KyotoInternational Junior High/ High School	1 Hondayama-cho, Imakumano, Higashiyama-ku	525-3535

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