A comparison between junior colleges and special training colleges in Japan

The history, function and role of two types of Japanese post-secondary institutions-junior colleges and special training colleges — are examined. The junior colleges which have hitherto been associated with the provision of academic, non-vocational education have begun to diversify into vocational courses in response to the increasingly popular vocational courses provided in the special training colleges (sennon gakko) developed since 1976 in the best of the formerkakushu gakko. The implications of this for the future development of post-secondary education in Japan are considered.