Bill to adversely revise education law forcibly enacted

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Bill to adversely revise education law forcibly enacted

In complete defiance of public opinion calling for thorough discussions, the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties used their majority on December 15 to push through the House of Councilors a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education for the first time since its enactment in 1947.

Diet deliberations had revealed major problems with the bill that in violation of the Constitution will instill patriotism by trampling on the freedom of conscience and infringe on the freedom and independence of education by allowing the state to interfere with education content without restrictions.

From early in the morning on the same day, teachers and citizen organization members rallied in front of the Diet Building in opposition to the bill. When they found out that the bill was forcibly enacted, they raised shouts of indignation.

In order to prevent the bill from being enacted, the opposition Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and People's New parties jointly submitted to the House of Representatives no-confidence motions against the Abe Cabinet and against Foreign Minister Aso Taro who has repeatedly made remarks to promote discussions on Japan's possession of nuclear weapons.

In the House of Councilors, the four opposition parties jointly submitted a motion to censure Education Minister Ibuki Bunmei. Only the JCP and the SDP submitted a motion to censure Prime Minister Abe Shinzo because the Democratic Party refused to do so.

In both Houses, these motions were defeated by the majority vote of the LDP and Komei Party.
- Akahata, December 16, 2006