Teachers' and Counsellors' Perspectives on Gifted Children and Gifted Education: New Zealand and Japan

Abstract

This article reports on the key findings of a recent study undertaken by Aya Shibata, exploring teachers' and counsellors' perceptions of gifted children and of gifted education policy in New Zealand and Japan. The study took the form of qualitative, comparative case studies, and involved semi-structured interviews with teachers and school counsellors in New Zealand and Japan. Key findings highlight a lack of official support for gifted education in Japan, while acknowledging the place of out-of-school, private programmes as a form of gifted education. The study offers insight into Japanese cultural concepts relevant to gifted and talented education, and suggests directions for future research.