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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPAMESE GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION,SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1990 > PART2 Chapter8 2

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PART 2 Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 8 Internationalization of Education, Culture and Sports
2 Development of Japanese Citizens Living in the International Community


When we consider the role of formal education in the context of internationalization, the most important issue to be considered is how to develop Japanese citizens who can be trusted in the international community. To develop such Japanese people, it is crucial to enable students not only to understand the importance of the interdependence of nations in the world, as well as the cultures and circumstances of other nations, but also to acquire an attitude to value the Japanese culture and traditions. The revised Courses of Study published in March 1989, stressed the importance of helping children increase their international understanding and develop an attitude to respect Japanese culture and traditions.

In universities and junior colleges, there are an increasing number of faculties and departments related to international studies. In non-formal education for adults and youths, an increasing number of lecture courses deal with topics related to international understanding.

Another important task is to help students develop the ability to communicate with foreigners. To this end, the revised Courses of Study for lower and upper secondary schools placed more emphasis on foreign language teaching on helping students develop communication skills in foreign languages, as well as basic attitudes for international understanding. Every year the Ministry administers the "Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program" under which a number of native speakers of foreign languages are invited to secondary schools to serve as assistant teachers of foreign languages. In addition, in order to help university and junior college students develop their speaking and listening proficiency in foreign langauges, the Ministry facilitates the creation of foreign language centers and the purchase of more and better language laboratory equipment in universities and junior colleges.


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