Protect the fundamental law of education: educators

On the 55th anniversary of the Fundamental Law of Education, academics and teachers' union activists on March 31 founded the "Association for the Promotion of the Fundamental Law of Education" for promoting the law in opposition to the government plan to adversely revise it.

Eight education researchers and former teachers' union leaders concerned about the Koizumi Cabinet's "review" of the law and proposed founding the association. They issued a statement in November last year calling for the promotion of the law, and 279 people have supported it.

At the assembly, Ota Takashi, one of the 8 organizers said, "We need to reconsider the value of the law which is as important as the Japanese Constitution." He also emphasized the importance of protecting the law as it does not allow state power to manipulate people's thought. (end)