Idea Plaza Summary 1422
The results of the National Academic Achievement and Learning Status Survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for sixth graders and third graders in junior high school in 2024, were released in July. This test showed a decline in scores for elementary and junior high school students. Junior high school English showed the greatest decline, and scores in elementary and junior high school Japanese and elementary school mathematics also declined from the previous 2021 survey. Depending on how you look at these results, there are significant problems. One is that the survey only examined scores in sixth grade and third grade. This survey only compares high and low scorers and describes their characteristics. It also makes it impossible to accurately investigate the reasons for the decline in scores. A more accurate method would be a panel survey that tracks individuals continuously from first grade of elementary school through third grade of high school.
Globally, practices are emerging that use children’s learning histories to provide personalized learning. In Denmark, the national statistics ministry publishes information about classes taught in public schools. The country has begun releasing panel data showing which teacher taught which class and at what time. This system clearly shows which class, which teacher, and which class, and at what time. Anyone can use the data to learn about effective classes. Japan’s education has long been recognized as a globally high standard. However, the country has not investigated how individual children study and how they have achieved their results. Increases and decreases in test scores have been widely reported, but no deeper investigation has been conducted into the reasons for these increases or decreases.
The importance of panel surveys is widely known overseas. It is not uncommon for academic achievement surveys to be conducted as panel surveys overseas. While the United States and the United Kingdom are advanced countries in academic achievement surveys, South Korea and China also conduct panel surveys for academic achievement tests. Japan is a completely underdeveloped country when it comes to academic achievement surveys. Tracking panel surveys can confirm whether increases or decreases in study time are linked to changes in test scores. If we follow the same children into their 20s and 30s, we can see the effects of educational practices. With a panel survey, we can confirm whether the argument about the relationship between test scores and employment is true. With a panel survey, we can examine how changes in educational practices are related to scores. With a panel survey, we can examine how changes in educational policy are related to academic test scores. In a sense, this creates an environment in which educational issues can be discussed using objective data. I hope that Japanese education will also catch up with global trends.
