## Section 1 Revision of the Basic Act on Education

## 1 Current Situation Surrounding Education

Japan’s education system has contributed significantly to social development through fostering human resources. With the steady efforts of the people including education personnel, it has realized the principle of equal opportunity, raised national educational standards, and responded to the particular needs of different time periods. As a result, Japan has shown significant achievements such as an affluent society and a secure way of life in the post-war era.

Nevertheless, the circumstances surrounding education have changed greatly in respects such as the progress of science and technology, advanced information technology, internationalization, the aging society with falling birthrate, and family lifestyles. At the same time, the environment surrounding children has changed significantly, and a variety of issues have come to light. Looking at the current status of education, it appears that confidence in education is wavering, and that education is facing a number of significant problems. Specifically, in addition to bullying and truancy, horrific incidents which should never have happened, and where children are both victims and victimizers, are indeed happening. Concerns exist about a decline in children's desire to learn. Furthermore, factors such as the decline in the normative consciousness of society as a whole and changes in family and community values have an effect on the sound growth of children.

In light of this situation, educational reforms are being sought with a view toward educating the human resources that will chart a course into the 21st century.

## 2 Establishment of the Revised Basic Act on Education

The existing Basic Act on Education was completely revised and the revised Basic Act on Education was established on December 15, 2006. The law was promulgated and put into effect on December 22 as Law No. 120 of 2006.

The Basic Act on Education stipulates the fundamental ideas and principles for education in Japan, and is meant to serve as a fundamental law for all legislation related to education. The original Basic Act on Education was promulgated and put into effect in March 1947. The education system developed under this law greatly boosted the national educational standards and served as a driving force behind Japan’s social development. Nevertheless, challenges surrounding education like those described above have arisen amidst the substantial changes in society.

In light of such circumstances, the recent revisions to the law clearly set out principles for education considered to be extremely important today while at the same time inheriting the universal principles set out in the previous law. Such principles include placing value on public-spiritedness and other forms of the “normative consciousness” that the Japanese people possess, as well as respecting the traditions and culture that have fostered said consciousness.

For the revised Basic Act on Education, Aims and Principles of Education are laid out in Chapter 1. Here, striving toward the full development of personality is prescribed as the “Aims of Education,” and the determination to nurture the citizens, sound in mind and body, who are imbued with the qualities necessary for those who form a state and society is laid out as well. As such, it stipulates matters which are considered important in order to realize the aforementioned aims of education in the form of “Objectives of Education.” Moreover, in addition to “Equal Opportunity in Education,” the “Concept of Lifelong Learning” has been newly prescribed as Objectives of Education.

In Chapter 2, Basics of Education Provision are laid out. In addition to reassessing provisions related to “Compulsory Education,” “School Education,” “Teachers,” “Social Education,” “Political Education,” and “Religious Education,” it also has new prescriptions on “Universities,” “Private Schools,” “Education in Family,” “Early Childhood Education,” and “Partnership and Cooperation among Schools, Families, and Local Residents.”

In Chapter 3, Education Administration is laid out. It clarifies the role between the national and local governments, and also stipulates the formulation of the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Education. With regard to the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Education, discussions are currently moving forward at the Central Council for Education with the aim of formulating the plan within FY2007 (refer to Chapter 1, Section 4).