The Fukuoka City Board of Education has firmed up plans to shorten the summer vacation and add classes on Saturday in an effort to improve the scholastic ability of elementary and junior high school students. The decision was made since all of the city’s elementary and junior high schools now have air-conditioning or will have it installed by 2016, thus enabling study in the summer. This move will create approximately 30 hours of class time, which equates to a summer vacation that is four to five days shorter than now. An additional three to four days will be added to the calendar by holding classes on some Saturdays. The longer academic year is slated to start for elementary schools in fiscal 2016 and four junior high schools in fiscal 2017. Opponents to the idea say it should be more carefully considered because it will increase the burden on faculty. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 6/9
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