Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology in Tokyo. (© Sankei by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Japanese adults ranked second overall globally, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Survey of Adult Skills 2023 released on December 10. This survey evaluated essential life skills in adults in various participating countries, including Japan. It was carried out under the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC).
Japan's average score declined, while its Numeracy score improved. Despite these mixed results, the country's rankings in both categories fell from first to second place, trading places with Finland. Nevertheless, Japan remains a global frontrunner, with the lowest proportion of low-performing individuals among all surveyed nations.
Conducted by the OECD, the survey assessed around 160,000 adults aged 16 to 65 across 31 countries and regions. This was the second iteration of the study, following its debut in 2011. Notably, Adaptive Problem Solving (APS) was assessed for the first time. This section assesses the flexibility to adjust to changing circumstances, and Japan achieved the top ranking in this new category.
Japanese Scored Second to Finland in Most Categories
In Literacy, Japan scored an average of 289 out of 500. This reflected a seven-point decrease from the previous survey. Finland overtook Japan to claim the top spot.
Meanwhile, Japan achieved a score of 291 in Numeracy, marking a three-point improvement. However, Finland also outperformed Japan in this category. By comparison, the OECD averages for all countries were 260 for Literacy and 263 for Numeracy.
Commenting on the results, the Ministry of Education stated, "Japan's overall performance has not significantly changed. Finland's higher scores reflect its increasing share of highly educated individuals, including those with doctoral degrees."
The scores were categorized into six proficiency levels, from below Level 1 to Level 5. In Literacy, 9% of Japanese respondents fell into the lowest category, Level 1 or below, a four-point increase from the previous survey. In Numeracy, 25% of respondents achieved Level 4 or above, a six-point increase. This set of numbers also indicates the highlighting of a widening disparity between high and low performers.
RELATED:
- New Documentary Explores Education In 'The Making of a Japanese'
- EDITORIAL | Revisit 'No Need to Attend School' Law that Fostered Trend
- Saitama Prefecture Sees Surging Demand for Language Support Among Non-Japanese Students
(Read the report in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
