Japan had the lowest ratio of junior high school teachers who allowed students to use information and communications technology on a daily basis among 47 comparable countries and regions, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The report focused on the novel coronavirus and education, among other issues, and was compiled based on existing data and information. Denmark had the highest ratio of such teachers at 90.4%, while Japan ranked at the bottom of the list with 17.9%.
However, the figures were obtained in 2018 and are likely to have changed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The report noted that small class sizes make it easier to follow social distancing rules. According to the survey, the average number of children per class in Japan was 27.2 in elementary schools and 32.1 in junior high schools, as of 2018. The lowest average in elementary schools was marked by Costa Rica at 15.7. For junior high schools, Latvia had the lowest average at 15.8.
Schools were closed for 14 weeks on average due to the spread of the coronavirus among OECD member nations. In Japan, classes were canceled nationwide for 16 weeks from March to June.
The OECD also announced the ratio of public spending on education to gross domestic product as of 2017. Japan ranked second lowest among 38 OECD members or prospective members at 2.9%, while Ireland was the lowest at 2.8%. Since 2007, Japan had been at the bottom of the list, except in 2013. Norway topped the list at 6.4%. The OECD average was 4.1%.
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