A Comparative Study of the Axiology and Ontology of the Primary Education System in Iran and Japan Countries

Abstract

pose: Examining the education systems of different countries can help to design programs for improve their quality. Consequently, this study aimed to conduct a comparative study of the axiology and ontology of the primary education system in Iran and Japan countries. Methodology: This research in terms of purpose was applied and in terms of implementation method was descriptive from type of qualitative. The research population was all printed and online documents and texts related to the primary education system of Iran and Japan countries and professors of the departments of philosophy of education and curriculum of Islamic Azad Universities of Iran and Japan, which all documents and texts were selected by the total sampling method and 15 professors (10 Iranians and 5 Japanese) were selected as samples according to the principle of theoretical saturation by the purposive sampling method. The research tools were included screening from document and text and semi-structured interviews with professors, which their validity was confirmed by the triangulation method and their reliability was obtained by the agreement coefficient between the two coders of 0.81. In this research, data analysis was conduct with using the content analysis method in Atlas-ti software. Findings: The findings of this study showed that the primary education system in Iran and Japan has similarities and differences in terms of axiology and ontology. For example, in the axiology section in Iran country emphasis on the theories of scientists, protection of society's values, self-confidence, protection of society's national culture, ensuring the independence of society and the preservation and spread of social and national values to the next generation and in Japan emphasis on the moral, national, cultural, economic and social values and the resolution of economic and social difficulties. Also, in the ontology section in Iran country emphasis on the absolute existence, raising a monotheistic faithful and believing generation to the resurrection and committed to responsibilities and duties towards God, oneself, others and nature and in Japan emphasis on the comprehensive development of the personality and physical and mental development of children to achieve love, justice and truth-seeking. Conclusion: An effective education system is system that is in harmony with the ultimate goals and real needs of the future society. Therefore, it is essential that the primary education system in Iran country changes in order to pay more attention to the ultimate goals and real needs of the future society.