Overview of Information
Technology in Education

Japan's Efforts Related to Disseminating IT in Education

MITI has supported school education primarily from the perspective of IT utilization. The importance of schools as a
training ground to prepare students for their role in society is widely recognized. MITI will continue its efforts while
taking into consideration support provided by the industrial sector as a whole.

Virtual Agency
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications

Ministry of Education

Model Project Using Advanced Network

National Curriculum Standards

100-School Networking Project・Test operation of a high-speed network
connecting 1,076 schools (1998~2000)

Installing computers, etc.

・Networking project connecting 100 advanced
schools to the Internet (1994~1998)

Introducing Reduced Rates for Schools

Training teachers

・Discounted Internet service rates forschools beginning in 1999

Providing guidance and other information

Supporting the development ofeducational software
Software libraries (education centers, etc.)

MITI・¥300 million/year
・Collaborative learning
・Research on further technical advances
・Providing information on case studies of IT
use, etc.
・IT propagation and dissemination activities

Programs for promoting the use ofIT in education
・Programs designed to enhance educationand improve literacy (63 projects fundedwith ¥12 billion, 1998~1999)
・Curriculum for training educators
・Information distribution system
・Help desk service
・Platforms among schools, etc.

Schools

Dispatching system engineers
to schools

Supporting the dispatch ofsystem engineers to schools

E-Square (e 2) Project(1999~2001)• Building on the results of the 100School Networking Project and otherprograms to support schools that will
be introducing IT into their programs- Collection of classroom case studies- Providing information on software,etc.
• For schools connected to the Internet,
providing forums for collaborative
learning and information exchange• Researching new educational
methods that use electronic
information equipment

Supporting the development ofeducational software
Software libraries

Approximately
40,000 schools

Private Sector
Projects implemented inconjunction with the Ministry ofEducation
Projects implemented
independently by each ministry“Konetto” Plan
・Networking project that connects
approximately 1,000 schools to theInternet (1995~)

Media Kids
・Internet-based collaborative learningfor children (1994~)• For our children's future, it is extremely important to promote the use of IT inschools.
• The focus for the next two to three years is bringing schools on line with the aim ofhaving all schools connected to the Internet by the end of fiscal 2001.
• To achieve that goal, it is obviously necessary to install the appropriate hardware.
In addition, however, it is crucial to do everything possible to prepare a conducive
environment on the software side by enhancing teacher training programs,
collecting and presenting information about the specific results achieved bypioneering schools, and providing forums for information exchange.

Overview of the Introduction of IT in Education•The Internet was first introduced in Japan's educational system in 1994 through the100-School Networking Project. Development has been rapid since then, with evenfurther dissemination expected in the future.

Fiscal 1994

Fiscal 1995

Fiscal 1996

Advanced IT program

Fiscal 1997

Fiscal 1998

Education reform program

Fiscal 1999

Fiscal 2000

Fiscal 2001

Announcement of National
Curriculum Standards

Fiscal 2002Implementation ofNational
CurriculumStandards

21st Century Prospects for Japanese
Education

Conference of Cooperating Parties Involved in Surveying and Researching the Promotion of IT Education in
Elementary and Middle Schools in Response to IT Advances

Computers
Elementary schools(units/school)
Junior High schools(units/school)
High school(units/school)

６．１
２３．１
５７．６

６．９
２３．９
６１．９

８．５
２５．３
６６．６

１０．４
２８．１
７１．１

１２．９
３２．１
７６．４

（２２）
（４２）
（４２）
InternetInternet

Number of schools
connected to theInternet

１００＋

１１００＋

1 0 0 -School Networking Project

７３６３

１３９４５

（１８９００）100-School Networking Project (phase 2)（２９５００）E-Square Project

Programs to Promote IT Use in Education

Virtual Agency
Model Projects Using Advanced Network“Konetto ” Plan

（４００００）MITI’s Challenges
Information Revolution

100-schools networking Project(1994〜1996)

Teachers
Request for ITEvaluation of Effectiveness and Possibility
MITI provide ITProducts,Network.
Coordination

BUT

Expensive
From evaluation to application

100-schools networking Project(1997〜1998)
Global, Community,
Advanced Technology

Background

Over 1000 schools
are Connected tothe Internet

Coordination

SchoolEnvironment

Computer

2000.3

Internet

2002.3Curriculum

2002-2005

Emerging issues are to train teachers and to make many educational software

For 100 schools
For all schools

hools

Learning Web Project（1998-1999）

ADVANCE

Supporterndtoallsc

E-Square（1999-）

Expa

Education
SupportEXPAND
School Network Support Project
Advanced IT Application Program

EXPAND

SE Dispatch Program

ALL SCHOOLS
Human Resources

Many Model Project
Participate

New Comer

who can use ITIndustry