The curriculum is aligned differently
In Japan, MEXT sets the Courses of Study, which serve as the standard for schools across the country when they organise their curricula. The system aims to give a certain level of education wherever a child lives.
In the Netherlands, diversity in school founding and educational philosophy is a feature of the system. That does not mean there are no government standards or inspection, but the structure does not align everything to a single educational philosophy.
School choice is built differently
The Netherlands has public-authority and private schools, and both can receive government funding if they meet certain legal requirements. There are also schools with particular philosophies such as Montessori, Dalton, Jenaplan and Steiner. The philosophies are covered in Jenaplan and school diversity.
Japan also has national, public and private schools with varied policies, but the national Courses of Study form a large common base as the curriculum standard.
School systems and pathways are not the same either
Compulsory education in Japan is basically six years of elementary school and three of junior high school, after which most students go on to high school. In the Netherlands, secondary education divides clearly into pathways such as VMBO, HAVO and VWO.
Matching only grade names does not mean the pathway or curriculum is the same.
Japan's achievement is high in PISA 2022
In OECD PISA 2022, 15-year-olds in Japan scored above the OECD average in all three of mathematics, reading and science. Japan's 2022 results in mathematics and science were high even by its standards since it began taking part in PISA.
The Netherlands was above the OECD average in mathematics, below in reading and close to average in science. So the explanation that the Netherlands is a leading education country and therefore also outscores Japan does not fit the current PISA data.
| Country | Mathematics | Reading | Science |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Above average | Above average | Above average |
| Netherlands | Above average | Below average | Close to average |
Well-being is a separate axis of comparison
On the other hand, the Netherlands is rated very highly in UNICEF's child well-being report. What matters is not treating PISA and well-being as one ranking.
Achievement and skills measured by tests differ from indicators of overall life, including children's mental and physical health. At home too, it is easier to understand a situation if you do not collapse achievement and the child's state into one number. The link between well-being and achievement is also covered in children's happiness and academic performance in the Netherlands.
What to learn from Japan, and from the Netherlands
Japan's national curriculum standard is a major strength when you think about continuity of basic content. The Dutch diversity of school choice and educational philosophy prompts families to think clearly about fit with the child and their own educational policy.
You do not have to choose one entirely. A family can build the basics firmly while trying ways of learning that suit the child. Concrete ideas to try at home are in What Japanese families can take from Dutch education.
Summary
Japanese and Dutch education differ in system design, school choice and pathways. In current PISA data Japan's achievement is very high, and the Netherlands faces challenges such as reading. The Netherlands, on the other hand, draws attention for child well-being and school diversity, which is a different dimension.
The most practical comparison for a family is not which is better but separating what is measured from what you want to value.
References
- MEXT | Improvement of Academic Abilities Courses of Study
- MEXT | Overview of Japanese education
- Government of the Netherlands | Freedom of education
- Government of the Netherlands | Public-authority and private schools
- OECD | PISA 2022 Country Note: Japan
- OECD | PISA 2022 Country Note: Netherlands
- UNICEF Innocenti | Child Well-Being in an Unpredictable World
