EFFECTIVE WAYS OF THE TIMSS INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT: THE JAPANESE EXPERIENCE

Abstract

This article analyzes the role and effectiveness of TIMSS international
assessment data in the governance of Japan’s education system. Japan, consistently achieving
high results in assessments such as TIMSS and PISA, demonstrates how TIMSS data can be used
as a central governance tool to guide changes in national education policy, particularly the
abolition of the Yutori Kyoiku reforms. The analysis focuses on the socially equitable structure of
the Japanese system, the 2017 curriculum revision aligned with TIMSS standards, and the
governance significance of the Lesson Study (Jugyō Kenkyū) mechanism in teacher professional
development. Furthermore, the article examines the centralized textbook system, the dynamics of
TIMSS score declines and recovery, and the social costs of high academic demands. Japan’s
experience serves as a global model for turning international assessment results into evidence
based policy that simultaneously ensures education quality and equity.