## [Schools for Special Needs Education]

## ☐ Dealing with children with severe/multiple/various disabilities

In order to further enhance the appropriate teaching in consideration for changes in society and the needs of children with severe/multiple/various disabilities, including developmental disabilities etc., include the following points in the teaching content: 1) proactive engagement with other people and 2) appropriate behavior in groups.

## ○ Enhancing teaching according to the individual needs of each child

Make “Individualized teaching plans” that stipulate the teaching contents and methods for each child, and make “Individualized education support plans” (that is) to provide appropriate long-term supports in cooperation with not only schools but welfare, medical, health and labor related organizations.

O Enhancing vocational training for independence and social participation of each child with disabilities

For support to get a job in companies etc. after graduation, make improvements to further emphasize learning through work experience in cooperation with business and the community, and set a specialized subject “welfare” in Schools for Special Needs Education for students with intellectual disabilities.

## ○ Promote stepped-up exchanges and joint learning

Make efforts to implement, from the youth, the organized, planned and sustainable stepped-up exchanges and joint learning between children with and without disabilities considering the contents and methods to meet their educational needs.

## [Special Needs Education in all regular schools from kindergarten through upper secondary school]

To enhance the education for children with disabilities in all regular schools, 1) Improve the comprehensive educational support system within the schools, 2) Ensure appropriate teaching and supports in consideration of the individual needs of children with disabilities through preparation of “Individualized teaching plans” or “Individualized education support plans,” and 3) Promote stepped-up exchanges and joint learning and enhance education, for appropriate understanding toward children with disabilities.

## Section 4 Improving the quality of teachers

## 1 Adoption of system for renewing educational personnel certificates

## (1) Circumstances and goals for the adoption of the system for renewing educational personnel certificates

In the 166th regular Diet session in June 2007, based on the June 2006 Central Council for Education report “Modality of Future Educational Personnel and Certificate System” and revisions to the Basic Act on Education, the revised Education Personnel Certification law was passed and established mandating the adoption of the system for renewing educational personnel certificates in April 2009.

The system is for teachers to live up to citizen’s expectations toward themselves and continue to be professional educators in the future by acquiring the latest knowledge and skills with confidence and pride, and by receiving the respect and trust of society.

The specific implementation policy for the renewal system was discussed in the Central Council for Education’s Teacher Training Committee and reported in December 2007. Taking into account the committee’s report, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is revising the related ordinances and proceeding toward the smooth implementation of the renewal system.

## (2) The renewal system design

The valid period for each regular certificate and special certificate after the renewal system adoption (April