Business Japanese Proficiency Test to be scrapped

[Davey]

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.
Read the whole article here

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.

 

[Astroboy]

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.

Not only the test, but also JET programme is planned to scrap.

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.

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%.

 

[Ewok85]

Its Japan, doesn't surprise me. Its big business to make up some examination/certification and get someone in the government give it an air of authority.

But in any case, BJT was a joke. 500,000 people took the JLPT last year, there is no significant difference in content.

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%.

Great, scrap JET so they can pay even more to the private sector who'll hire teachers on void contracts and avoid millions in taxes