Business Japanese Proficiency Test to be scrapped

Business Japanese Proficiency Test to be scrapped
A Japanese-language proficiency test geared toward non-Japanese who are searching for employment in Japan or with Japanese companies overseas will be discontinued at the end of the current fiscal year, it has been learned.
The Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT) -- established in 1996 by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and administered by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation (JKATF) -- has been used as a criteria in reviewing applications for residency in Japan by non-Japanese. As such, its discontinuation is likely to affect foreigners who have been preparing for it.
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Dutch Baka said:

Anyone with experience taking this test? It's really strange that JKATF payed 336 million yen to take over the administration, and then 1 year later the want to scrap it.

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Since 1987, the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program has brought young Westerners — often straight out of college — to Japan to teach English at high schools. But now, Japan's massive public debt and the need to cut costs have put JET in the spotlight.

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Astroboy said:

Not only the test, but also JET programme is planned to scrap.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20100727zg.html
Cannot be helped as IMF said Japan should tighten its fiscal budget or raise VAT up to 10-20%.

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