Households with an annual income of 8million yen (60.180 €) or more spend three times more on their children's extracurricular activities, such as cram schools and sports lessons, than those with less than 4million yen (30.090 €) annual income, according to a survey by a correspondence education company.
The higher income group spends an average of 26,700 yen (200 €) per month on such activities, while the lower income group spends 8,700 yen (65 €) on average, according to Benesse Corp., which is based in the city of Okayama. As for expenditures on outside-school lessons, such as English conversation, the former group spends 13,600 yen (102 €) and the latter group 3,000 yen (22 €), the survey revealed.
It also indicated that the more a family earns, the more actively its children participate in art- and sports-related activities, with 41 percent of children from the higher income group enrolled in art activities, compared with 24 percent from the lower income group.
It also indicated that the more a family earns, the more actively its children participate in art- and sports-related activities, with 41 percent of children from the higher income group enrolled in art activities, compared with 24 percent from the lower income group.
The enrollment ratio for sports activities stood at 65 percent for the higher income group and 47 percent for the lower income group. The survey was conducted in March via the Internet, with responses received from 15,450 mothers with children aged between 3 and 17.
Emi Kataoka, an educational sociology professor at Komazawa University who analyzed the survey, said, "We should pay attention not only to disparities in academic achievements and advancements, but also to those in terms of cultural and sports activities (among the rich and the poor)."
Among the popular activities are especially after school clubs like sports, the traditional board game Go and naturally the all-time favourites Manga, Anime and Videogames. Nintendo recently even made it officially into education circles. Schools in Japan are starting to acknowledge Nintendo DS as a useful means of learning with fun.
Also popular TV shows lile ABC's Cooking Studio show the kid's how to spend their time wise and in company of others. Group activities especially are an essential way of identification in Japan and thus teach the children one good lesson. (Breitbart)
Emi Kataoka, an educational sociology professor at Komazawa University who analyzed the survey, said, "We should pay attention not only to disparities in academic achievements and advancements, but also to those in terms of cultural and sports activities (among the rich and the poor)."
Among the popular activities are especially after school clubs like sports, the traditional board game Go and naturally the all-time favourites Manga, Anime and Videogames. Nintendo recently even made it officially into education circles. Schools in Japan are starting to acknowledge Nintendo DS as a useful means of learning with fun.
Also popular TV shows lile ABC's Cooking Studio show the kid's how to spend their time wise and in company of others. Group activities especially are an essential way of identification in Japan and thus teach the children one good lesson. (Breitbart)
