PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 4 Improvement and Enrichment of Higher Education
4 Improvement of Procedures for the Selection of Entrants
The Joint First-stage Achievement Test, administered from 1979
through 1989, gained public favor because it ensured the quality of examination
questions and resulted in the improvement of the second-stage examination conducted
by each university. However, there were criticisms that the "ranking order of
universities" became more explicit, and that it has only contributed to the improvement
of entrance examinations conducted at national and local public universities.
Also, there was criticism concerning the abolishment of the classification of
national universities into two groups according to the date of entrance examination.
Some demanded that students be allowed to apply to two or more national universities.
Accordingly, in light of the recommendations of the National
Council on Educational Reform presented in its first report, a new National Center
for University Entrance Examination (NCUEE) examination was instituted for the
selection of entrants in 1990. The selection of unique and diversified university
entrants will be emphasized through the utilization of this new examination system
by national, local public and private universities. In order to allow students
to apply to two or more national or local public universities, a "consecutive
pattern" was introduced for the selection of entrants in 1987. In addition to
this pattern, a "separation and dividing pattern" was introduced for the selection
of entrants in 1989. Furthermore, detailed information about the universities
is provided to students in order to facilitate their selection of a university
and a course of study. Currently, the University Council is considering possible
long-term tasks and concepts of the university entrance examination.