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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Small-sized classes needed for better education
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

With cherry trees blooming, children are starting their school life in Japan. Reducing the class size to no more than 30 students is essential for every student to receive a proper education.

As of FY 2006, all prefectures except for Tokyo, have adopted the policy of reducing class sizes to less than the government-set standard of 40 students per class.

Parents, teachers, and local residents have long called for small-sized classes of 30 students, and their efforts influenced in each prefecture to introduce its own small-sized class system. It is important to continue making the effort until the objective of small-sized classes of 30 students is met nationwide.

However, if the government retains its policy of 40 students per class, it cannot financially ensure the reduction of class sizes.

The Koizumi government refuses to introduce the small-sized class system, even though education ministry surveys show clearly that smaller classes are effective for learning as well as for school life in general.

The education minister in February last year expressed for the first time his agreement with the small-sized class system a Japanese Communist Party representative proposed in the Diet.

Nevertheless, a ministry panel in October deferred implementation of the system under pressure from the Koizumi government, though the panel made clear that small-sized classes should be introduced for children in the first three grades of elementary school.

At the prefectural level, only the Tokyo Metropolitan Government continues to oppose small sized classes.

Even the education ministry's panel that shelved the implementation of the system criticizes the Tokyo government for neglecting the needs of children. Tokyo should stop adhering to the current system of 40 students per class.

The Japanese Communist Party last September published its policy outline to open the way for instituting at the national level a 30-student class system.

Using just a portion of the budgets for large public works projects, military spending, and government subsidies to political parties can provide the financial resources to meet this goal. Since hiring more teachers will have a positive impact on the overall economy, the small-sized class system is a policy useful not only for education but also for the economy.
- Akahata, March 24, 2006