If Japan expects to compete in the new global economy, it needs to take a hard look at how it educates students.
Although rankings are controversial, they provide a starting point, particularly since Japan placed No. 20 worldwide for competitiveness and quality in a recent survey conducted by Insead Business School.
Actually the news comes as no surprise. For too long, Japan has rested on its laurels. Its once solid reputation for producing well-educated employees ready for the workplace has lulled it into complacency. The result has been a gradual but disturbing trend toward mediocrity toward learning.