Education

International School and American School
		Fukuoka Internatinal School (Educational Foundation Fukuoka Kokusai Gakuen) Sawara-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Pref. Tel 81-82-841-7601 Opened September 3, 1990 20 teachers, 159 pupils from 22 countries (As of Mar. 1998) Fukuoka International School was established in 1990 with the support of the business community and public administration to improve educational opportunities for foreign children, whose number was increasing along with the international development of the regional economy of Kyushu. It is an integrated educational institution that provides instruction in English from the kindergarten to senior high school level. Its graduates are deemed to have completed the regular American high school course. The school has a dormitory for pupils from distant homes. Daystar International School of Kumamoto Mifune, Kumamoto Pref. Tel 81-96-282-7548 Opened on April 1, 1990 8 teachers, 27 pupils from four contries (As of Mar. 1998) Situated in an excellent natural environment, the only international school in Kumamoto Pref. seeks to achieve a good balance among spiritual, intellectual and physical capabilities to develop human resources who can meet global standards. About 30 pupils from Canada, the US, Russia and Japan from the kindergarten to senior high school level are now studying at Daystar. The school emphasizes bilingual education centering on English, with Japanese language and culture classes for foreign pupils. Ten full-time and three part-time teachers take charge of about five classes. American Schools E. J. King School U. S. Navy Sasebo Base, Sasebo, Nagasaki Pref. Tel 81-956-24-6111 Opened in 1979 55 teachers, 474 pupils (As of Mar. 1998) J. N. Darby School U. S. Navy Sasebo Base, Sasebo, Nagasaki Pref. Tel 81-956-24-6111 Opened in 1988 32 teachers, 372 pupils (As of Mar. 1998) Both are US national schools. Japanese children are also admitted, basically after they admitted, basically after they have completed compulsory Japanese education. At present, King School has two Japanese students. At both schools, the academic year is divided into quarters. Sasebo Campus of the University of Maryland Sasebo, Nagasaki Pref. Tel 81-956-24-6111 Opened in 1990 11 instructors, 176 students (As of Mar. 1998) Central Texas College (junior college) Sasebo, Nagasaki Pref. Tel 81-24-6111 Opened in 1987 Both were established as Sasebo branches of a state university or college. Later on, the American institutions made arrangements with Nagasaki Pref. and Sasebo City to admit Japanese students to foster international-minded youths and to promote international friendship. Both have American faculties and the same curricula and systems as their respective principal campuses in the US. The graduates receive equivalent diplomas to those in the US.

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
		Beppu, Oita Pref. Tel 81-975-36-1111 (Cultural Promotion Division, Planning Headquarters, Oita Pref.) Scheduled to open in April 2000 Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University will admit students from more than 50 countries. It is intended as an Asian university, supported by national governments, business corporations and public institutions in the Asian-Pacific region to foster human resources who would contribute to the development of the region in many different aspects. The university will have two schools, one for Asian-Pacific studies and the other for international business management, mainly to train leaders for the solution of problems in the Asian-Pacific region and specialists for activities in the forefront of international business. To be eligible for enrollment in this university, foreign students should be able to understand lectures either in Japanese or in English. International dormitories will be established on the campus, and scholarships will be available to many foreign students to enable them to experience a fruitful academic life.

Education in Kyushu
		Japanese School System Japan has both public and private educational institutions, comprising elementary (six years), junior high (three years) and senior high (three years) schools, junior colleges (two years) and universities (four years). The first nine years of education (elementary and junior high schools) is compulsory. Usually a child enters elementary school at six years of age, but before that he or she may go to day nursery or kindergarten. The school year begins in April and ends in March, divided into three semesters, from April to August, September to December, and January to March. The academic year at universities and junior colleges is divided into halves (April to September and October to March). Admission to public school Elementary or junior high school File an application with the local board of education for admission of your child. You should also show his or her alien registration card and submit any other papers the board may require. Senior high school Together with the application form, you should present a certificate of graduation from a Japanese junior high school or of completion of nine years of education abroad. A graduate of an international school may be given special consideration. Number of Educational Institutions in Kyushu   Fukuoka Saga Nagasaki Kumamoto Oita Miyazaki Kagoshima Total Elementary school 800 205 442 542 401 295 609 3,294 Junior high school 382 101 218 210 163 151 288 1,513 High school 186 46 88 85 77 59 104 645 Technical college 3 - 1 2 1 1 1 9 Junior college 26 3 10 7 5 3 6 61 University 27 3 5 7 4 7 6 59 Vocational school 175 28 40 55 39 34 47 418 Other specialised school 86 11 25 15 28 14 15 194 As of 1997 Survey of Schools (Ministry of Education)