This archive report was first published on 2 January 2020.
On January 2, 2020, a news item caught my attention - Japanese children were shunning school in growing numbers. This was intriguing, given Japan's reputation for rigorous education and high academic expectations.
The phenomenon, known as 'futoko', or resistance against the regimented education system, has been reported to be on the rise. Children are resisting the strict school system, which they see as stifling their creativity and individuality.
This is not unique to Japan, however. Children in many countries, including the UK, France, Korea, and Burkina Faso, are treated similarly - as empty vessels to be filled with knowledge, with little room for creativity or individuality.
As Paulo Freire, a renowned educationist from Brazil, described it, this is the 'banking system' of education, where knowledge is deposited into the minds of students, rather than being discovered through exploration and inquiry.
Charles Dickens's novel 'Hard Times' also critiques this approach, where a character, Mr. Thomas Gradgrind, advocates for teaching 'facts, nothing but facts'.
However, the Japanese children are pushing back against this system, refusing to attend school and forcing their parents to take notice. This phenomenon has been described as absenteeism, truancy, school phobia, or school refusal, but I believe it is a liberation movement of the youngest generation.
As I reflect on my own education, I realize that the school system is designed to produce obedient, non-thinking members of society, rather than independent thinkers and innovators. The role of the teacher is to mold students into robots, who will carry out orders without question.
However, this approach is not preparing students for the real world, where they will need to think critically and make decisions for themselves. As a result, many students are left feeling stifled and unfulfilled, with little opportunity to exercise their minds and imagination.
It is time for us to rethink our educational systems, and to give students the freedom to think and learn in a more autonomous way. The Japanese children's futoko may be a catalyst for change, and it is up to us to create a more innovative and inclusive education system.
