Japanese medical school apologises for rigging exams to favour men

  • 08/08/2018

A Japanese medical school has apologised after being caught out rigging its entrance exams for over a decade to favour men and penalise women.

The scandal at Tokyo Medical University was uncovered during a corruption investigation into allegations it admitted a Government official's son in exchange for bribes.

Investigators discovered that some men's test scores had been falsified to give them higher marks, while women had their test scores marked down.

Tokyo Medical University managing director Tetsuo Yukioka told the Financial Times: "We have caused a great amount of trouble to everyone and betrayed the trust of society. I apologise from my heart."

He said the practice will be eradicated, according to the Financial Times, and the university would consider how to make amends to female applicants who were turned away.

University sources suggested to local media the university had been rigging test scores because female doctors were more likely to take time off to look after their families and it put more pressure on men.

Japan Joint Association of Medical Professional Women member Dr Rurioko Tshushima said that was unacceptable.

"If doctors are having to work long hours to cover maternity leave, that is not a problem with the capability of female doctors, it is a problem with the system," she told the Financial Times.

Newshub.