Chinese, Korean to be added for intl students' test

Chinese and Korean languages will be added to the current examination to evaluate the academic abilities of foreign students who would like to study in Japan, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry said।

The plan, which the ministry agreed on Saturday, aims to promote the early realization of the government's effort to increase the number of international students in Japan to 300,000। It takes into account the fact that Chinese and South Korean students account for nearly 90 percent of those taking the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU). The ministry hopes to further increase the number of students from both countries.

Although the examination has been available only in Japanese and English, the overwhelming majority of students taking the test are Chinese and South Korean। Of 19,206 students who took the examination in June 2008, Chinese students accounted for 74 percent and South Korean students 14 percent.

The ministry also decided to adopt the two languages to evaluate the students' basic scholastic abilities beyond the language barrier, according to the sources.
(Oct। 27, 2008)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20081027TDY03302.htm