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Junior high school

Admission

In Onomichi City, households with children in the 6th grade at a public elementary school will receive a notice explaining the procedure to enroll their children in the nearest public junior high school. Although there is no obligation under the law for foreigners to send their children to school while in Japan, foreign parents and guardians will also receive this notice and they are welcome to send their children to the nearest public junior high school.

If such is the wish of parents and guardians, children with disabilities can enter schools with specific programs adapted to children with disabilities, if such programs exist.

Requests for admission can be processed at all times. Should you have moved to Onomichi from a different municipality, after the beginning of the school year, please contact the Onomichi City Board of Education (in Japanese) to enquire about having your child frequent a junior high school near you. Schooling can begin the day following application.

For more information and application at a private junior high school, please contact each institution directly.

Expenses

As junior high school education is compulsory in Japan, public school feels and texts are free. However, the cost of school supplies, school meals, excursions and school activities must be shouldered by the students' parents or guardian. Should it be found, after investigation, that the financial situation of the parents or guardians warrants it, financial support will be made available. Please contact the school your child is attending to obtain more details.

Life in a junior high school in Onomichi

In Japan, children enter junior high schools in April following their graduation from elementary school. As was the case in elementary school, they are encouraged to follow their group in everything and observe a strict classroom discipline. Most schools in Onomichi have a school uniform and training wears, and your child will be expected to wear them too.

In most cases, children are instructed to listen silently while their teacher speaks, and "open discussion" occurs in controlled situations.

Attendance and punctuality are the norm in every school. Although it slightly varies according to schools, a typical school day begins at about 8 o'clock. Children are expected to arrive to school 10 to 30 minutes before school starts. If your child will be late or absent, please notify the school. Dismissal time may vary according to the days, but it is always scheduled in advance. In the case of school events, daily schedules may be changed but parents will be notified of any changes beforehand.

It is common for children to walk or ride a bicycle to school and back in groups, along a designated path, so please instruct your children to follow their teachers' instructions.

In Japan, it is usually the children who clean up the classrooms, hallways, stairs and school grounds, at a designated time. They will be expected to perform the task set to them by their teachers.

At most junior high schools, it is common for most students to be involved in a club activity. Each club's focus is either a sport or a cultural activity, and students are expected to devote a fairly large part of their free time practicing under the supervision of a teacher. Most activities are performed after regular school hours and some also take place during weekends (like inter-school tournaments, etc.) Expenses related to the pursuit of such activities (including, but not limited to, uniform, tournament entrance fees, transportation fees, sports goods, etc.) are the responsibility of the students' parents and guardian.

For information specific to a given school's environment and curriculum, please contact the school directly.