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With an adult literacy rate exceeding 99 percent, Japan ranks among the top nations in the world in educational attainment. Schooling generally begins before grade one in preschool and is free and compulsory for elementary and junior high school (grades 1 through 9). More than 99 percent of elementary school-aged children attend school. Most students who finish junior high school continue on to senior high school (grades 10 through 12) about 95precent. Approximately one-third of senior high school graduates then continue …

…of elementary school and three years each of junior and senior high school, a promise of equal access to free, public education; and an end to the teaching of nationalist beliefs. Reforms also wanted to encourage students' self-expression and increase flexibility in curriculum and classroom measures. However, some spectators still believe that education in Japan is extremely severe, helping memorization of facts at the expense of original expression, and geared to encouraging social consistency.