Issues of Mathematics Curriculum in Japan: Changing Curriculum Policies and Developing Curriculum Frameworks for Mathematics

Abstract

Mathematics curriculum policies and frameworks have far-reaching impacts on the learning outcomes of school students at various levels through mathematics curriculum standards, resource materials, and teaching strategies. This chapter focuses on issues of mathematics curriculum in Japan in terms of changing curriculum policies and developing curriculum frameworks for school mathematics. It will contribute to highlight and share the unique and common issues of school mathematics curricula among Asian countries. In this chapter, first, we will present one cycle of revising school curriculum in Japan. Second, we will look at a brief history of Japan mathematics curricula in order to identify different curriculum policies and frameworks for school mathematics. Third, we will analyze a relationship between changing a mathematics curriculum policy and developing a mathematics curriculum framework for school mathematics with two cases of recent revision cycle of mathematics curriculum in Japan. In this section, we will discuss on the problematic aspects of developing a curriculum framework to embody the changed policy into new curriculum standards for mathematics. Finally, we will summarize this chapter to identify a keen issue of the mathematics curriculum policy for school.