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Recurring Teacher Shortages: A Historical Analysis of Education Policy in Japan

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Title: Recurring Teacher Shortages: A Historical Analysis of Education Policy in Japan
Language: English
Authors: Mugiho Maeda
Source: Educational Studies in Japan: International Yearbook. 2025 (19):41-51.
Availability: Japanese Educational Research Association. #102, Creart Kanda Building, 2-15-2, Kanda-Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo, 101-0041. Tel: +81-3-3253-6630; Fax: +81-3-3254-0477; e-mail: edit@jera.jp; Web site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/esjkyoiku
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Teacher Shortage, Educational Policy, Foreign Countries, Educational History, Teacher Recruitment, Teacher Salaries
Geographic Terms: Japan
ISSN: 1881-4832
2187-5286
Abstract: This study examines the historical and long-term recurrence of teacher shortages in modern and contemporary Japan and explores why this problem has not been fundamentally solved. Although research has provided a detailed and complicated background for the recent teacher shortage in Japan, few studies have examined this issue as a historical and continuous problem. The analysis results found four periods when teacher shortage problems occurred. For each period, the study identified three common causes (increasing demand for teachers, economic fluctuations, and reduced incentives) and four common measures (improving incentives, expanding teacher supply routes, deregulation, and improving teacher salaries). In conclusion, this study argues that the teacher shortage problem in modern and contemporary Japan has always been caused by exogenous factors, such as population dynamics and economic changes, because the financial basis for teacher salaries has been too unstable and insufficient to retain teachers and continuously attract teacher candidates. The analysis also suggests that high competition rates for teacher hiring masked the teacher shortage problem, as shown in the reduction in teachers' salaries and incentives. This reduction has also contributed to recent teacher shortages by restricting the number of hires, increasing "non-regular teachers," and decreasing the number of teacher candidates.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1475610
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Recurring Teacher Shortages: A Historical Analysis of Education Policy in Japan
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Studies+in+Japan%3A+International+Yearbook%22"><i>Educational Studies in Japan: International Yearbook</i></searchLink>. 2025 (19):41-51.
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  Data: Japanese Educational Research Association. #102, Creart Kanda Building, 2-15-2, Kanda-Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo, 101-0041. Tel: +81-3-3253-6630; Fax: +81-3-3254-0477; e-mail: edit@jera.jp; Web site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/esjkyoiku
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  Data: 11
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Shortage%22">Teacher Shortage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+History%22">Educational History</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Recruitment%22">Teacher Recruitment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Salaries%22">Teacher Salaries</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Japan%22">Japan</searchLink>
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  Data: 1881-4832<br />2187-5286
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  Data: This study examines the historical and long-term recurrence of teacher shortages in modern and contemporary Japan and explores why this problem has not been fundamentally solved. Although research has provided a detailed and complicated background for the recent teacher shortage in Japan, few studies have examined this issue as a historical and continuous problem. The analysis results found four periods when teacher shortage problems occurred. For each period, the study identified three common causes (increasing demand for teachers, economic fluctuations, and reduced incentives) and four common measures (improving incentives, expanding teacher supply routes, deregulation, and improving teacher salaries). In conclusion, this study argues that the teacher shortage problem in modern and contemporary Japan has always been caused by exogenous factors, such as population dynamics and economic changes, because the financial basis for teacher salaries has been too unstable and insufficient to retain teachers and continuously attract teacher candidates. The analysis also suggests that high competition rates for teacher hiring masked the teacher shortage problem, as shown in the reduction in teachers' salaries and incentives. This reduction has also contributed to recent teacher shortages by restricting the number of hires, increasing "non-regular teachers," and decreasing the number of teacher candidates.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 41
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Shortage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Educational History
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Recruitment
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Salaries
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      – SubjectFull: Japan
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