Teachers

Elementary teachers are generally responsible for all subjects, and classes remain in one room for most activities. Teachers are well prepared. Most teachers, about 60 % of the total, are women; but most principals and head teachers in elementary schools are men.

Equipment

There is an excellent system of educational television and radio, and almost all elementary schools use programs prepared by the School Education Division of Japans ex Broadcasting Corporation (Nippon Hoso Kyokai--NHK). In addition to broadcast media, schools increasingly are equipped with computers. Although only 6.5 % of public elementary schools had personal computers in 1986, by 1989 the number had passed 20 %.