Japanese university cut women’s test scores

Sons of alumni got boost, school probe reveals

TOKYO • A leading medical university in Japan marked down tests from female applicants because they were considered more likely to leave the profession to marry and raise a family, an internal investigation concluded.

Tokyo Medical University also accepted bribes to inflate the results of “priority” male applicants whose families were linked to the institution.

The investigation was triggered when Futoshi Sano, a former director general at the education ministry, was indicted in July on charges of helping the university secure more than $400,000 in government subsidies in exchange for a place for his son.

The inquiry quickly ballooned to reveal that a number of male students classified as “priority” applicants — often children of alumni — had their test scores revised to ensure they would have a place and bring in donations from the parents, the report revealed.

At the same time, university officials subtracted points from the test scores of every female applicant to the university. Officials even worked from a manual detailing how the scores were to be manipulated and indicating that the aim was to keep the number of female students at the university to around 30 per cent of the total.

Senior university officials believed that male doctors were preferable because women were more likely to leave the profession after getting married.

“This is a really regrettable incident,” said Kenji Nakai, a lawyer who took part in the investigation.“By deceptive recruitment procedures, they sought to delude the people taking the tests, their families, school officials and society as a whole. There were also factors suggesting very serious discrimination against women.”

The probe has blamed the discriminatory policies on Masahiko Usui, 77, the former chairman, and Mamoru Suzuki, 69, the former president, who allegedly accepted money from the parents of applicants who were later granted places at the university. The pair stepped down from their positions in July and have since been indicted on charges of bribery. Other school officials not accused of wrongdoing in the investigation have denied all knowledge of any inappropriate action toward applicants.

“We sincerely apologize for the serious wrongdoing involving entrance exams that has caused concern and trouble for many people and betrayed the public’s trust,” said Tetsuo Yukioka, its managing director. The scandal has caused anger in Japan, where the government of Shinzo Abe has taken measures to promote equality and empower women in society.