Grasping the Reality of Today's Buraku
Towards a Post-Special-Measures Solution to the Buraku Problem
- Part 3(2) -
| In March 2001, around the time when the Law on Specific Budgetary Measures concerning Projects designated for Area Improvement became invalid, the local government of Osaka Prefecture released a report entitled, "Study of Actual Conditions of Dowa districts towards a Solution of Dowa Problem." The study was conducted for the purpose of collecting the most up-to-date and precise data and information concerning the Buraku problem and analyzing the collected data in the hope that it will provide the local government and other concerned bodies with a basis for developing strategies in combating Buraku discrimination in the post-Special-Measures era. Here we will focus on a report that examines living conditions in Dowa districts. The report is one of several reports(1) that were produced on the basis of the study's findings. It is a broad-based report, so we will pick up some of more interesting chapters in this series(2) in the hope that they will be relevant to the interest of our readers. Part 3(2) of this series continues to focus on the actual conditions surrounding education, specifically formal education, in Osaka Buraku communities |
III. Education
3. Dropout Problem
1) Dropout from normal and specialized high school
i) Actual numbers
Among those who attended high school, including those whose level of formal education is high school or higher and those who dropped out of high school, the dropout rate is more than 10% in every age group. It is 13.9% in the 20s age group, which means that one out of every seven people in that group who entered high school ended up dropping out.
The dropout rate among those who received scholarships under Dowa measures for their high school education has been consistently higher than the percentage for all Osaka Prefecture high schools (public/private and day/night). For example, the dropout rates for scholarship students in Dowa districts and all high schools in Osaka Prefecture in 1995 were 4.7% and 2.6%, respectively. Later data is 7.2% and 3.0% for 1996, 6.9% and 3.1% for 1997, 5.3% and 3.1% for 1998, and 3.7% and 2.9% for 1999.
Today, the percentage of Dowa district children attending high school exceeds 90%. However, considering the above figures, it is feared that the number of high school students who complete high school education will be lower. The dropout problem with students from Dowa districts is still a serious education issue.
In the past, the high school entrance rate has suggested educational improvement in Dowa districts. Although there is still a 3-4% gap between Dowa districts and Osaka Prefecture, it is understood that the initial objective is being achieved. The dropout rate, however, suggests that serious problems still remain.
ii) Dropout reasons
To see if there is a difference between age groups in reasons for dropping out of school, those who dropped out from high school are divided into two groups: one consisting of those aged 29 or under and another consisting of those aged over 30. The younger group (29 or under) accounts for a higher proportion than the older group (over 30) in (2) "was not enthusiastic about going to high school from the outset" by 20.3%, (3) "did not find lessons interesting" by 16.6%, (4) "did not have good relationships with others" by 9.8%, and (5) "school atmosphere did not suit me" by 8.5%. Reasons (8) "wanted to get a job" and (11) "for economic reasons", however, are in reverse proportion by 2.7% and 8.9%, respectively.
Table3-16: Respondents whose final education level is high school or higher, and respondents who dropped out from high school
| Applicable number | Final formal education at high school or higher | Dropped out of high school | |
| Age 18-19 | 153 | 135 | 18 |
| 100.0% | 88.2% | 11.8% | |
| 20-29 | 1,021 | 879 | 142 |
| 100.0% | 86.1% | 13.9% | |
| 30-39 | 966 | 811 | 155 |
| 100.0% | 84.0% | 16.0% | |
| 40-49 | 740 | 637 | 103 |
| 100.0% | 86.1% | 13.9% | |
| Over 50 | 930 | 803 | 127 |
| 100.0% | 86.3% | 13.7% | |
| Total number | 3,810 | 3,265 | 545 |
| 100.0% | 85.7% | 14.3% |
Table 3-17: Reasons for dropping out of high school (multiple answers)
| Applicable numbers | Reasons | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||
| Age 15-29 | 184 | 29 | 70 | 62 | 33 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 38 | | | 7 | 15 | 14 | 3 |
| 100.0% | 15.8% | 38.0% | 33.7% | 17.9% | 21.2% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 20.7% | | | 3.8% | 8.2% | 7.6% | 1.6% | |
| Over 30 | 385 | 40 | 68 | 66 | 31 | 49 | | | 12 | 90 | 3 | 16 | 66 | 64 | 3 |
| 100.0% | 10.4% | 17.7% | 17.1% | 8.1% | 12.7% | | | 3.1% | 23.4% | 0.8% | 4.2% | 17.1% | 16.6% | 0.8% | |
| Total | 569 | 69 | 138 | 128 | 64 | 88 | 2 | 14 | 128 | 3 | 23 | 81 | 78 | 6 |
| 100.0% | 12.1% | 24.3% | 22.5% | 11.2% | 15.5% | 0.4% | 2.5% | 22.5% | 0.5% | 4.0% | 14.2% | 13.7% | 1.1% | |
Reasons
- Poor showing in school work
- Was not enthusiastic about going to high school from the outset
- Did not find lessons interesting
- Did not have good relationships with others
- School atmosphere did not suit me
- Wanted to transfer to another high school
- Wanted to transfer to a vocational school
- Wanted to get a job
- Wanted to take college entrance exam rather than continuing high school
- Because of sickness or injury
- Economic reasons
- Other reasons
- Unknown
2) Dropout rates for junior colleges and colleges
i) Actual figures
The dropout rate from junior colleges and colleges among those respondents aged over 20 is 13.7%. The rate exceeds 11% in all age groups. The dropout rate increases for each increase in age group.
ii) Dropout reasons
The reason that gained the highest percentage of 32.6% is (3) "did not find lessons interesting". Others include (1) "poor showing in school work" at 18.6%, and (5) "school atmosphere did not suit me" at 15.5%. The second highest reason is (8) "wanted to get a job".
| Applicable number | Graduated | Dropped out | |
| Age 20-29 | 329 | 292 | 37 |
| 100.0% | 88.8% | 11.2% | |
| 30-39 | 237 | 205 | 32 |
| 100.0% | 86.5% | 13.5% | |
| 40-49 | 211 | 178 | 33 |
| 100.0% | 84.4% | 15.6% | |
| Over 50 | 151 | 126 | 25 |
| 100.0% | 83.4% | 16.6% | |
| Total | 928 | 801 | 127 |
| 100.0% | 86.3% | 13.7% |
Table 3-19: Reasons for dropout from junior colleges and colleges (multiple answers)
| Applicable numbers | Reasons | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |
| 129 | 24 | 12 | 42 | 8 | 20 | - | 2 | 30 | - | 6 | 19 | 21 | 2 |
| 100.0% | 18.6% | 9.3% | 32.6% | 6.2% | 15.5% | - | 1.6% | 23.3% | - | 4.7% | 14.7% | 16.3% | 1.6% |
Reasons
- Poor showing in school work
- Was not enthusiastic about going to high school from the outset
- Did not find lessons interesting
- Did not have good relationships with others
- School atmosphere did not suit me
- Wanted to transfer to another high school
- Wanted to transfer to a vocational school
- Wanted to get a job
- Wanted to take college entrance exam rather than continuing high school
- Because of sickness or injury
- Economic reasons
- Other reasons
- Unknown
(3) How dropping out of school affects employment
Research was also conducted to identify common characteristics in employment of those who dropped out from school, are male and aged below 60. As the sample of people who dropped out from colleges was small, the study was made by comparing the current employment conditions of those whose final level of education was high school, and those who dropped out from high school. There is no significant difference in the age distribution of applicable respondents between the two groups.
In terms of type of employment, "full time" employment among those who dropped out from high school is 54.5%, which is 11.0 points lower than the rate for the graduate group. "Temporary" employment and "daily" employment among those who dropped out is 20.5%, which is 10.4 points higher than the rate for graduates.
In terms of wage payment type, "monthly salaries" among those who dropped out is 51.3%, which is 21.9 points lower than that for graduates.
The number of employees in companies where people who dropped out of school work is relatively small in comparison with that for graduates. Among those who dropped out, those who work in companies with more than 100 employees account for 14.9% of the group.
Regarding length of service at the current place of employment, "shorter than 5 years" accounts for 57.7% of the dropout group (34.7% for graduates), and "more than 10 years" accounts for 27.0% (44.7% among the graduates). These results indicate that there is a high tendency to leave or change jobs among the dropout group.
From the above, it is understood that the group of those who dropped out from high school face more unstable conditions in employment than those who completed high school. Dropping out from high school is one of main causes of unstable employment. It is a problem that must be solved from the perspectives of both education and employment.
| Applicable number | Full time | Temporary | Daily | Company executive | Self-employed (With employees) | Self-employed (Without employees) | Family business | Unknown | |
| Graduated from high school | 890 | 583 | 56 | 34 | 54 | 65 | 70 | 22 | 6 |
| 100.0% | 65.5% | 6.3% | 3.8% | 6.1% | 7.3% | 7.9% | 2.5% | 0.7% | |
| Dropped out of high school | 224 | 122 | 28 | 18 | 19 | 11 | 20 | 4 | 2 |
| 100.0% | 54.5% | 12.5% | 8.0% | 8.5% | 4.9% | 8.9% | 1.8% | 0.9% | |
| Total number | 1,114 | 705 | 84 | 52 | 73 | 76 | 90 | 26 | 8 |
| 100.0% | 63.3% | 7.5% | 4.7% | 6.6% | 6.8% | 8.1% | 2.3% | 0.7% |
2) The above figures exclude respondents whose final education level is unknown.
Table 3-22: The wage payment type
| Applicable number | Monthly salary | Other than monthly payment | Unknown | |
| Graduated from high school | 727 | 532 | 193 | 2 |
| 100.0% | 73.2% | 26.5% | 0.3% | |
| Dropped out of high school | 187 | 96 | 91 | - |
| 100.0% | 51.3% | 48.7% | - | |
| Total number | 914 | 628 | 284 | 2 |
| 100.0% | 68.7% | 31.1% | 0.2% |
2) The above figures exclude respondents whose final education level is unknown.
Table 3-23: Size of workplace in terms of number of employees
| Applicable number | Number of employees | Public office | Unknown | ||||
| 1-4 | 5-19 | 20-99 | Over 100 | ||||
| Graduated from high school | 884 | 176 | 184 | 165 | 189 | 161 | 9 |
| 100.0% | 19.9% | 20.8% | 18.7% | 21.4% | 18.2% | 1.0% | |
| Dropped out of high school | 222 | 53 | 57 | 52 | 33 | 25 | 2 |
| 100.0% | 23.9% | 25.7% | 23.4% | 14.9% | 11.3% | 0.9% | |
| Total number | 1,106 | 229 | 241 | 217 | 222 | 186 | 11 |
| 100.0% | 20.7% | 21.8% | 19.6% | 20.1% | 16.8% | 1.0% | |
2) The above figures exclude respondents whose final education level is unknown.
Table 3-24: Length of service at the current workplace
| Applicable number | Shorter than 2 years | 2-5 years | 5-10 years | Over 10 years | Unknown | |
| Graduated from high school | 884 | 150 | 157 | 171 | 395 | 11 |
| 100.0% | 17.0% | 17.8% | 19.3% | 44.7% | 1.2% | |
| Dropped out of high school | 222 | 70 | 58 | 33 | 60 | 1 |
| 100.0% | 31.5% | 26.1% | 14.9% | 27.0% | 0.5% | |
| Total number | 1,106 | 220 | 215 | 204 | 455 | 12 |
| 100.0% | 19.9% | 19.4% | 18.4% | 41.1% | 1.1% |
2) The above figures exclude respondents whose final education level is unknown.
(4) Desire for the opportunity to study again among people who dropped out from school
The desire for the opportunity to study again among those who dropped out from school is strong. Among the dropout group, those who wish to study again to rid themselves of disadvantages in employment or business account for 29.4%, while those who wish to do so for self-development account for 5.9%.
The desire to return to study was as high as 40% among those aged younger than 50 in the dropout group. This is more obvious among those who are in their 30s with a rate of 50.3%. Dropping out of school has a negative impact on employment and business in a number of different ways. Despite this fact, it is interesting that the rate of those who want to study again for self-development is around 30% for all age groups. It is important to provide these people with learning opportunities.
<to be continued>
Buraku Liberation News is fully responsible for summarizing the Reports in this series.
Note
- Some of the reports are available (Japanese version only) on the website of the Osaka Prefectural Government: http://www.pref.osaka.jp/jinken/measure/tyosa/index.html
- Previous articles in this series can be found at http://blhrri.org/index_e.htm
Table3-25: Desire to study again
| Applicable number | People who wish to study again | Do not wish to study again | Do not know either | Unknown | ||||
| Total | For eliminating disadvantages in employment or business | For self-development | ||||||
| Ages | 18-19 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 7 | - |
| 100.0% | 45.0% | 15.0% | 30.0% | 20.0% | 35.0% | - | ||
| 20-29 | 180 | 69 | 17 | 52 | 59 | 49 | 3 | |
| 100.0% | 38.3% | 9.4% | 28.9% | 32.8% | 27.2% | 1.7% | ||
| 30-39 | 189 | 95 | 22 | 73 | 53 | 39 | 2 | |
| 100.0% | 50.3% | 11.6% | 38.6% | 28.0% | 20.6% | 1.1% | ||
| 40-49 | 143 | 52 | 12 | 40 | 63 | 27 | 1 | |
| 100.0% | 36.4% | 8.4% | 28.0% | 44.1% | 18.9% | 0.7% | ||
| Over 50 | 580 | 165 | 10 | 155 | 313 | 96 | 6 | |
| 100.0% | 28.4% | 1.7% | 26.7% | 54.0% | 16.6% | 1.0% | ||
| Total number | 1,112 | 390 | 64 | 326 | 492 | 218 | 12 | |
| 100.0% | 35.1% | 5.8% | 29.3% | 44.2% | 19.6% | 1.1% | ||