Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, introduced school choice system into public elementary and public junior high school education in 2000. It was the first time school choice system had been introduced into public education in Japan.
Since then an increasing number of local governments have begun to adopt the system.
But there is an argument about whether the system should be introduced or not.
[Proponents]
School choice system should be introduced. It will bring two benefits to children and their parents.
The first is that it will give them the range of options.
The second is that it will trigger competition among each schools. Competition will make schools and teachers more attractive and original.
The era of socialism has passed.
[Opponents]
School choice system should not be introduced.
Public education should be equal. But if school choice system is introduced, it will set off competition. That will cause gaps between schools. In fact, in Shinagawa Ward, no students entered into one small junior high school in 2006. Another concern is that competition can cause regional divide in education.
Public education is public goods. It should not be left to market mechanisms.
