Ageism in Japan’s JET Programme
I served with the US Peace Corps in Hungary in the mid-1990s. Within our group of 50 there were two octogenarians and about a dozen who were over 65.
Today I was reading over the Eligibility Criteria for Japan’s JET Programme — an organization that ostensibly performs the same function as our Peace Corps program did, ie, teach English to non-native speakers (but at a better salary) – when I stumbled upon the seventh criterion.
In principle, be forty (40) years of age or less (as of April 1st, 2010). One of the main purposes of the Programme is to foster exchange between Japanese youth and young professionals from the countries participating in the Programme.
This is an absolutely ludicrous stipulation. It would be far better for the JET programme to foster exchange not only between Japanese youth and young professionals around the world, but between all Japanese (youth, mid-lifers, seniors) and people around the world (not just young professionals).
The exchange by those in our group in Hungary was not less fostered by those over-40 compared to those under-40.
Sancho Glickman
