In Japan, the necessity of a prestigious academic degree for advancement has led to extreme educational credentialism ("degreeocracy"). Despite the assumption that educational opportunities are open to all and advancement is thus meritocratic, social class inequalities do influence access to opportunities and educational attainment.…

Analyzes the Central Council for Education's (CCE) reform proposals in the 1990's, placing them within the context of developing the concept "equality of education opportunity" as applied to educational policies in Japan since 1945. Provides three reasons why the CCE's proposal of a new type of secondary school would be destructive. (CMK)