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

"Dowa" education concerns the universal principles of freedom and equality. It is also concerned with the fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Japan.

In view of the vital role which education is to play in solving "Dowa" related problems, the Ministry has been striving to heighten the public's consciousness for fundamental human rights through formal and non-formal education programs. It has also been making efforts to promote "Dowa" education, placing emphasis on the elimination of educational gaps in the geographical areas concerned, as well as on the improvement of the level of educational and cultural standards in these areas.

In 1991 the Ministry continued to carry out the programs of designating specific areas for the promotion of "Dowa" education, of designating the pilot schools for the study of "Dowa" education and of organizing nation-wide study meetings ofeducators on "Dowa" education. National subsidies are available to certain prefectures and designated large cities which provide financial assistance to students living in the areas concerned who find difficulty in going on to under secondary schools. The Ministry has increased the rate of scholarship loans under this program.