In Japan, it is common for students to clean their schools. While they might wonder, “Why do we have to clean?” they accept it as a duty and it becomes a normal part of their school life.

For us, school cleaning is a familiar concept, but when we look at the world, there are actually few countries where students clean their schools. According to one survey, only about 30% of countries have students clean their schools. In other countries, it is common to hire janitors for cleaning.

So, why do students clean their schools in Japan? The purpose of cleaning in school education goes beyond just making things clean. It includes instilling values such as the importance of work, cooperation, division of tasks, aesthetic sense, and consideration for others. These values are nurtured through student-led cleaning.

For example, in elementary schools, students are divided into small groups and assigned specific roles. Through cleaning, they learn the importance of fulfilling their own roles. Additionally, in some schools, older students teach younger students how to clean, providing an opportunity to learn how to teach others.

As mentioned earlier, in the United States, janitors usually handle school cleaning. This approach is based on the idea that students can focus on their studies by leaving the cleaning to professionals. The concept of students cleaning their schools is not common.

However, issues have been pointed out, such as students not picking up trash or sticking gum under desks and chairs. As a result, there are increasing calls for student-led school cleaning. In response to such situations, Singapore introduced school cleaning by students. Previously, like the United States, it was common to hire janitors, but in 2016, Singapore implemented a policy requiring students to clean daily. The Ministry of Education (MOE) stated that they introduced school cleaning following the examples of Japan and Taiwan.

This policy has both supporters and critics. Supporters argue that it is good for education and cost-saving, while critics claim it interferes with studies and reduces employment opportunities. As times change, challenges are also emerging in Japan regarding student-led school cleaning. Similar to the criticisms in Singapore, concerns include interference with studies, hygiene issues, and not wanting children to kneel while cleaning.

Considering these current situations, it seems that in the future, school cleaning in education will need to clarify its purpose and gain the understanding of all involved parties.