Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
Current Status and Issues in Junior
High School Geography Education
Kaoru Hirasawa
Abstract
The National Curriculum Standards for junior high schools in Japan were
made public in 2008, and fully implemented in April, 2012. The key areas that were
revised include the strengthening of regional geography, where students learn about the
geographical characteristics of world regions and of Japan. This is combined with fos-
tering student recognition of Japan's geographic regions and its national land, an area
that has been emphasized in the geography component of junior high school Social
Studies. In regards to the nation's land, the revisions call for dynamic learning in order
to avoid an over-emphasis of learning facts in regional geography education.
Investigative learning is another area emphasized in the new curriculum, where a
survey of the local area conducted at the end of the geography fi eld incorporates a
social participation element. In order to respond to the new learning activities that come
along with these revisions, the active promotion of well-planned training for educa-
tional administrative bodies, schools, and for Social Studies teachers will be needed.
Keywords
Geographic skills Social participation The National Curriculum
Standards World recognition
3.1
Introduction
The National Curriculum Standards for junior high schools in Japan were announced
in 2008 and fully implemented in April 2012, after a 2-year transition period that began
in 2010. The new National Curriculum Standards retain the basic principles embraced
by that of the 1998 version (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
1999
).
These included fi rmly instilling the basic fundamentals of geography, and in the
process foster the 'Zest for life' that includes studying and thinking independently.
Changes made between the two versions are in the lesson content of the
geography component within Social Studies. Until now, the usual practice at the
beginning of the school year in April has been to distribute textbooks to fi rst year
