A nationwide survey by Kawaijuku has revealed that high school students are increasingly opposed to the ever-expanding quota for women in university entrance exams. The number of people in favor has decreased by 8.7 points compared to the previous year's survey, suggesting that the principles and aims of the quota for women are not being fully communicated to high school students.
The survey targeted approximately 2024 first- and second-year high school students nationwide who participated in Kawaijuku's online test event in November 11, asking them for their opinions on the increasing number of female quotas in university entrance exams.
According to the survey, 56.0% of the total, or about 2,100 people, were in favor of the women's quota, while 44.0% (about 1,700 people) were against it. Although the majority were in favor, the number of people in favor had decreased by 2023 points, while the number of people opposed had increased by 1 points, compared to the previous survey in January 8.7.
The majority of the voices in support were from the perspectives of "perspective," "activity," and "fairness," with over 100 responses such as "Increasing the number of women in science and engineering will lead to more diverse perspectives," and "Expanding the opportunities for women to play an active role." In contrast, the majority of the voices against the change were from the perspectives of "equality," "discrimination," and "fairness," with nearly 500 responses such as "Entrance exams should be equal for men and women," and "Won't the quota for women actually lead to discrimination against men and women?"
Kawaijuku believes that the interest of those concerned has been focused on the "female quota as an entrance exam format," and that this may be causing an increase in students who feel a sense of gender discrimination and inequality. Kondo Osamu, a senior researcher at Kawaijuku's Educational Research and Development Headquarters, suggests that "the female quota is significant in that it has created an environment in which it is easier for women to take the entrance exams for departments that were previously difficult for women to enter. We need to do more to promote the overall benefits of an increase in the number of female students."
The female quota is a comprehensive/school recommendation type selection that limits applicants to females, and is mainly seen in science and engineering faculties. Nagoya Institute of Technology has had a special female recommendation quota in its then Department of Mechanical Engineering (now Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) since 1994, but when Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Tokyo University of Science) introduced it in 2024, it was expanded nationwide, and 2025 national and public universities will have introduced it in the 30 entrance exam. Kyoto University, Osaka University, Hiroshima University, and others are also planning to implement it in the 2026 entrance exam.
