Juku

Juku, written 塾, is a private after-school educational institution in Japan that provides supplementary instruction outside the regular school curriculum. They focus on reinforcing subjects taught in school, drilling on problem-solving, or preparing for entrance examinations. Juku operate separately from public schools and are offered by various organizations, including private tutors, small companies, and large education chains. They typically hold after-school sessions, often in late afternoons and Saturdays, and may offer one-on-one tutoring, small-group lessons, or subject-specific courses. Fees are usually charged per course or per session.

Most juku cater to elementary through high school students, with specialized yobiko or entrance-exam juku aimed at high school or university admissions. Students attend to improve performance, catch up with missed material, or gain competitive advantage on entrance exams, especially for selective public and private high schools and universities. Some also provide language or test-prep courses, including English, math, science, and social studies.

Historical context: The modern juku system developed in the 20th century as private education expanded. They became popular as competition for high school and university entrance exams grew. Juku are part of Japan's broader after-school culture and education market; they are less regulated than public education, operate on a for-profit basis, and vary widely in size and quality. Critics argue that heavy participation can contribute to student burnout and social inequality, given that families with more resources can enroll in more or higher-quality programs.

In other East Asian contexts, similar institutions exist under different names, such as hagwon in Korea or buxiban in Taiwan, reflecting a shared model of private after-school tutoring and exam preparation.