To make up for classroom hours lost since the introduction of a five-day school week, students at the 24 junior high schools in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward will lose one week from their summer vacation beginning next year, according to ward officials.
The Katsushika Ward board of education said it also plans to shorten the summer vacation period for elementary schools in the ward beginning in the 2006 academic year, which begins April 1, 2006.
As the result of the cut, the second trimester will start Aug. 25 instead of Sept. 1. There will be no change in the July 21 official start of summer vacation.
It is a rare for a municipality to shorten the summer vacation for all public schools, according to the officials.
With the nationwide introduction of a five-day school week in the 2002 academic year, classes are no longer offered on Saturdays, trimming annual classroom hours to about 980 from about 1,050.
Shortening the summer vacation will generate 30 classroom hours per year. The board is planning to let each school decide how to use the extra hours.
"We would like to improve students' basic academic skills and create time for teachers and students to spend together," board member Kenichi Oshio said.
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