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PART lssues and Perspectives of Elementaryand Secondary Education

In the United Kingdom, the decline of academic achievement among pupils is a most serious concern. The lack of nationally standardized curriculum and the overemphasis on the interests of pupils are pointed out to be the main causes of the decline in academic achievement. The Education Reform Act, enacted in 1988, set up the National Curriculum on major subjects and stipulated the implementation of the Standard Assessment Task, in order to promote the improvement of basic academic achievement among pupils. The act also stipulated the strengthening of the power of the governing bodies of elementary and secondary schools as well as the measures to expand the opportunities for parents to choose schools. The Youth Training Scheme has been expanded in cooperation with industries, as a measure to combat the increase of unemployment among the young. Concerninz the imnrove?ment of the quality of teachers, minimum standards on the entrance requirement of teacher training institutions and the amount of hours to be spent on the study of major subjects have been set up, and subsidies for the in-service training programs have been provided.