up in competition and status at such a young age.'" For some, "the schools are also seen as reinforcing a tradition of rote learning over ingenuity." Merits In many ways, juku compensate for the formal education system's inability or unwillingness to address particular individual problems. "In a 2008 government survey, two-thirds of parents attributed the growing role of juku to shortcomings in public education," such as the abolition of Saturday schooling (which therefore reduces the number of hours available to cover course material) and the reduction of curricular content (see Yutori education). Juku offer a more personalized service "and many encourage individual inquisitiveness when the public system treats everyone alike. 'The juku are succeeding in ways that the schools are not,' an OECD report says." See also Higher education in Japan Kyoiku mama, Japanese pejorative meaning "education mother". Similar to the concept of a "stage mother." List of Juku in Japan Tiger parenting Yobiko, similar to juku, but partially overseen by Japan's Ministry of Education, and focused on preparing students to take college admission tests. Hagwon, similar word in Korean to describe cram schools in South Korea Tuition centres in Singapore References External links Library of Congress entry Academic pressure in East Asian culture School types Testing and exams in Japan Test preparation companies