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PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture

In order to provide people with diverse learning opportunities, some new types of educational institutions, such as the University of the Air and special training schools, have been created.

The University of the Air aims at providing a great many people with an opportunity for high quality learning, by using broadcasting programs effectively. The University, which was founded in 1983, now enrolls approximately 30,0OO students. Since April 1989, when it sent its first graduates into society, the University has so far graduated 1,322 students.

In order to provide access to the educational programs of the University for people living in localities which are not covered by its broadcasting, in 1990 the University set up a video learning center in each of four regions, namely. Hokkaido, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Okinawa, all of which were outside the broadcasting area of the University. There is the expectation that the University will meet the needs of people for lifelong learning as far as possible, by increasing its cooperation with other facilities for lifelong Beaming, as well as with other institutions of higher education.

"Credit-system" upper secondary schools are schools of a new type introduced in 1988. They are intended to make opportunities for upper secondary education available to any one at any time. In these schools students can learn different subjects and acquire credits in a flexible mode of attendance. Unlike traditional upper secondary schools, these schools have no "grade system" under which students move up to a higher grade once every year. They are expected to function as schools, which can meet the diverse needs of learners for lifelong learning. In 1990 there were 13 public "credit-system" upper secondary schools existing in nine prefectures, namely, Iwate, Miyagi, Saitama, Ishikawa, Nagano, Aichi, Tottori, Miyazaki and Okinawa.

Special training schools and miscellaneous schools are characterized by their programs for practical vocational education and for specialized technical and technological education, which are adapted to diverse demands arising from various changes in society. It is hoped that these institutions will continue to provide actively a variety of educational programs and thus develop as facilities for lifelong learning for a great many adults and other people.