Japan Press Weekly

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2007 February 28 - March 6 [POLITICS]

10% of private junior high schools failed to teach students required subjects

Nearly 10 percent of all private junior high schools in Japan (72 out of 699), have failed to teach students compulsory subjects and/or the minimum hours of lessons in those subjects as required by the Education Ministry’ guideline.

The Education Ministry found 38 schools did not offer compulsory courses such as art, music, technical arts and home economics, and ethical training. 47 schools failed to meet the minimum hours of lessons required for these subjects, or for social studies and science classes. 13 schools were listed in both cases.

On February 27, Education Minister Ibuki Bunmei said that efforts have been made to correct that problem, and that it will bring about no direct effect on the graduation of about 20,000 students concerned.

Last year, many high schools’ failure to require students to take compulsory courses became a major issue in the Diet discussions on the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education. The Education Ministry at that time promised that it will investigate the situation of junior high schools and report the results.

In a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on the same day, Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ishii Ikuko criticized the ministry for being slow to investigate the issue.

Pointing to excessive competition for entrance examinations as the root cause of the problem, Ishii called for a thorough Diet discussion on the issue.