Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART I Chapter 2 Section 4 2

In view of problems identified through research and surveys at pilot schools, as well as the results of recent opinion surveys, it is apparent that a smooth transition to a semimonthly five-day school week requires a variety of efforts on the part of those involved in the process. Particular care needs to be taken with regard to the following aspects.

One reason cited by parents for disapproval of an increase in the number of Saturday school holidays was "slower progress in school studies" (40.3%). Those involved in school education must remain keenly aware of the concern felt by parents that the transition to the five-day school week will retard their children' education. Increased efforts must be made, including the improvement of teaching content and methods, to ensure that the introduction of the five-day school week does not lead to a lowering of educational standards. It must be demonstrated to parents and communities through actual educational activities in schools that the new system will in fact foster children' physical and mental health and enhance the qualities and abilities that enable them to think, judge, and act independently.

Another important priority is to avoid increasing children' workload. To achieve this, schools need to conduct forward-looking reviews and studies regarding the structure and implementation of their curricula from such perspectives as maintaining sufficient class hours to provide teaching in the basics of each subject, determining how far children' ability to concentrate on learning activities and work continuously can be maintained, and ascertaining whether children will enjoy a more relaxed life.

School events must be reviewed in relation to the basic educational roles of schools, families, and communities to determine whether these events truly need to be carried out in a school context. School events and activities for free hours used at each school' discretion must be carefully screened to determine whether they are really necessary, taking into account children' lifestyles on Saturdays when schools are closed. It is also necessary to consider ways to ensure the required number of class hours, such as rethinking shorter classes, as well as ways to reduce children' workload by restructuring daily schedules to reflect the characteristics of different subjects.

It is important that schools promote parentsZ??understanding of the five-day school week and cooperate in efforts to improve the educational functions of families and communities. Schools must endeavor to achieve these goals by interacting with families and communities more actively than in the past, by responding appropriately to the wishes of parents and communities, and by strengthening cooperation with parents and communities.

The change that parents most wish to see if there is an increase in the frequency of Saturday school holidays is "improved access to school facilities, such as schoolyards, gymnasiums, and school libraries, so that they can be used for children' play and other activities even on Saturdays when schools are closed" (54.2%). This is further evidence of the need for schools to take active steps to provide access to school facilities, which are the most familiar educational facilities, as venues for children' family and community activities.

As part of its efforts to develop school facilities as focal points for lifelong learning, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is currently promoting access to school facilities and the provision of clubhouses and other school facilities that are suitable for use by community residents. The Ministry also hopes that providing active support for community activities through improved access to school facilities will contribute to enhancement of the educational function of the community.

The most common reason cited by parents for not wanting an increase in the frequency of Saturday school holidays was "some families cannot take care of children on Saturdays" (58.4%). When parents were asked what measures they wished to be implemented if there were an increase in the frequency of Saturday school holidays, the second most frequent response was "special consideration for children whose parents are likely to be absent from home" (53.8%). Special consideration for children whose parents are away from home on Saturdays when schools are closed is an extremely important issue. In response to the same question, 27.7% of parents cited "development of sports and cultural facilities and youth organizations," while 27.3% wanted "improvement of social education facilities, such as more public halls, libraries, and museums," and 23.6% called for "provision of information about community activities and events." To respond appropriately to these expectations, it is necessary to work actively to enhance facilities and opportunities for children to engage in a variety of family and community activities.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is holding informal meetings with various organizations-including organizations involved in lifelong learning, culture, and sports, private-school organizations, and PTA groups-to gain their cooperation in the improvement and expansion of out-of-school activities. The Ministry is also actively approaching boards of education, social education facilities, and other organizations and is establishing the necessary subsidization systems.

One very important issue is special consideration for children whose parents are away from home on Saturdays when schools are closed and for children at special schools. Starting in fiscal 1992, funds for various programs, including sports and cultural activities, in schools, public halls, and other facilities have been provided under the local allocation tax. In fiscal 1993 costs relating to accident insurance premiums for leaders and the collection and distribution of information about out-of-school activities were also included in the local allocation tax.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is developing a variety of measures designed to enable young people to participate in out-of-school activities, such as sports and cultural programs and volunteer activities. Examples include the Regional Boys and Girls Circle Activity Promotion Program, the Youth Nature Experience Activity Promotion Program, and the Youth Exchange Promotion Program. The Ministry will continue to enhance these measures and will also step up efforts to develop more sports facilities and recruit and train instructors.

Concern has been expressed about a possible increase in juku attendance in conjunction with the five-day school week. In the March 1994 survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, 17.5% of respondents cited the possibility of an increase in attendance at juku and privately operated preparatory classes as a reason for opposing an increase in the frequency of Saturday school holidays. The results of the survey on activities on the second Saturday of June 1994 show that 0.3% of children attended juku in the morning and 1.0% in the afternoon. While these percentages are extremely low, it is necessary to continue to take precautions to avoid excessive juku attendance and related problems.