The significance of improving the knowledge, common sense, academic ability, and other skills necessary in daily and vocational life is apparent when inmates return to society. Secondary education is provided to the inmates at correctional institutions who did not complete their compulsory education or are considered to be handicapped in their rehabilitation or for a smooth return to society due to lack of academic ability (see Part 2, Chapter 4, Section 2, 3(2) and Part 4, Chapter 2, Section 4, 2(3)C).
  Furthermore, high school education is provided to those whose smooth return to society would be considered to be significantly improved through having their academic ability improved. The High School Equivalency Examination (the old University Entrance Qualification Examination) is scheduled to be implemented at penal institutions or juvenile training schools from 2007 on by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture in conjunction with each other. Opportunities to take a qualification examination are increasing for inmates or juvenile school inmates who hope to gain a qualification while in correctional facilities. 56 inmates took the exam during 2004 through to 2006 as model cases for correctional institutions, with 55 (including those who passed in some of the subjects) then passing (Source: The Correction Bureau, Ministry of Justice).