Topic: Compulsory education: from what age to what age — and whose duty is it
How does Japan mark Compulsory education: from what age to what age — and whose duty is it?
Everyday topic
Article 26 of Japan's constitution places the duty not on the child but on the parent. Clause 1 states the right — all people shall have the right to receive an equal education correspondent to their ability, as provided by law — and clause 2 continues: all people shall be obligated to have all boys and girls under their protection receive ordinary education as provided for by law; such compulsory education shall be free. The duty in the Japanese phrase for compulsory education is therefore not a duty to receive education but a duty to have it received. That choice of subject stands out among these seven markets. China puts both the right and the duty on the citizen in a single sentence; Indonesia puts the duty on citizen and government at once; India commands the State to provide. Japan puts it on the guardian — and then adds that such education shall be free, so the state carries the cost of the obligation it has imposed.
What is this topic?
Taiwan's Compulsory Education Act sets six to fifteen, nine years, and leaves compulsory enrolment itself to a separate statute. Brazil's Article 208, as amended in 2009, runs from four to seventeen — the widest span of the seven. India's Article 21A covers six to fourteen and sits in the Part on fundamental rights, so it can be taken to court. Indonesia's Article 31(2) puts the duty on both sides at once: the citizen must attend basic education and the government must pay for it, with a further clause reserving at least twenty per cent of the budget for education. Japan's Article 26 places the duty on parents. China's Article 46 makes education a right and a duty in the same sentence. The United States has no federal rule at all: each state sets its own start and end ages.
Sources and dates
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