Japan Press Weekly

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2008 January 30 - February 5 [POLITICS]

Government panel on ‘education reform’ presents final report to prime minister

The government Education Rebuilding Council submitted its final report to Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo on January 31, calling for the creation of a new organization commissioned to monitor progress in the implementation of its recommendations for “education reform”.

Fukuda stated that a new council will be established in his cabinet. The new body is expected to be set up in February.

The final report said that the major tasks that should be implemented as part of education reform include upgrading moral education to a regular subject, a move that could bring back the education policy that was adopted by militarist Japan before and during WW II.

In a bid to strengthen state control over education and drive children into harsh competition, the report also called for the national achievement test to be regularly carried out.

Many teachers and other educationalists are critical of the report for presenting a policy that conflicts with the real needs of the nation’s schools and children.