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PART Issues and Developments of Policies in Education, Science and Culture

As for international exchange for teachers and researchers, annually, about 5,000 teachers of elementary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools are sent abroad as part of their publicly supported in-service training. The Ministry is also promoting international exchange through such programs as the sending of Japanese university teachers and researchers abroad for long-term study visit, the appointment of foreign teachers and instructors, programs of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the sending abroad of social education personnel, etc.

Youth exchange programs include the Youth Invitation Program, the Ship for World Youth, the Friendship Program for the 21st Century. Local governments and many private organizations also undertake many programs of international exchange for youth. School trips abroad are one of the meaningful opportunities to interact with foreigners and observe foreign culture at first hand and thus to contribute to the deepening of international understanding, and yet more attention to safety during the trip is needed. In view of the importance of international exchange of upper secondary school students, the Ministry supports invitation programs by foreign governments and those organized by nonprofit organizations which show good records of programs. It also revised, in February 1988, a part of the Enforcement Regulations for School Education Law, to the effect of introducing an established system for upper secondary school students studying abroad by which studies at upper secondary schools abroad might be recognized as equivalent of those at Japanese upper secondary schools.

International cultural exchange shall contribute to the development of culture of our country and. on the other hand, the contribution of our culture to the international community is in heavy demand. The positive promotion of international cultural exchange is therefore strongly needed. The Agency for Cultural Affairs cooperates for exhibitions and performances introducing Japanese culture, promotes international artistic activities, cooperates for the preservation and restoration of cultural properties abroad, and invites and sends artists and specialists in cultural properties.

International sports exchange is becoming popular year by year. Today, a wide range or people from the top ranking athletes to common citizens nave got involved in international sports exchange. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture promotes international sports exchange at local government level by providing municipalities with subsidies for their sports exchange program with Asian countries. The Ministry also subsidies programs for sending social education leaders abroad, and the international exchange of sports clubs of children administered by the Japan Amateur Sports Association.

UNESCO is an agency of the United Nations specialized in the promotion of international cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture. Our government values its basic ideals and the importance or multi-lateral cooperation programs, and has actively been cooperating with it and participating in its programs. Participation in educational and scientific programs organized by OECD has also been active, and cooperation with developing countries has positively been promoted.