high school clubs these usually meet only once a week. Problems Japanese elementary schooling is seen as effective, but not without some problems, notably increasing absenteeism and school refusal and a troublesome amount of bullying (77,630 reported cases in 2010 throughout the school system) In addition, special provision for the young children returning to Japan from long periods spent overseas is an issue. The government also is concerned with the education of Japanese children residing abroad. However, in most urban centers there are at least private international schools which can accommodate such returnees. Controversies A new course of study was established in 1989, partly as a result of the education reform movement of the 1980s and partly because of ongoing curriculum review. Important changes scheduled were an increased number of hours devoted to Japanese language, the replacement of the social sciences course with a daily life course- -instruction for children on proper interaction with the society and environment around them—and an increased emphasis on moral education. New emphasis also was to be given in the curriculum to the national flag and the Japanese national anthem. The ministry suggested that the flag be flown and the national anthem sung at important school ceremonies. Because neither the flag nor the anthem had been legally designated as national symbols, and because of the nationalistic wartime associations the two had in the minds of some citizens, this suggestion was greeted with opposition. See also Sports day Fushūgaku Juku Terakoya Education in Japan History of education in Japan Education in the Empire of Japan. References - Japan Further reading Stevenson, Harold, (1994), Learning Gap: Why Our Schools Are Failing and What We Can Learn from Japanese and Chinese Education. Simon & Schuster. James W. and James Hiebert Stigler, (2009, reprint), The Teaching Gap: Best Ideas from the World's Teachers for Improving Education in the Classroom. Free Press. Xenophobia and the effects of education (in Japan) External links Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) List of Elementary and Middle Schools in Japan