Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SPORTS AND CULTURE 1996 > Priorities and Prospects for a Lifelong Learning Society Chapter 1 2 (1)

Development of a structure to promote lifelong learning began with the establishment of the Lifelong Learning Bureau within MESSC in 1988. In January 1990 the Central Council for Education produced a report titled "Development of an Infrastructure for Lifelong Learning." These recommendations were reflected in the Lifelong Learning Promotion Law (Law Concerning the Establishment of Implementation Systems and Other Measures for the Promotion of Lifelong Learning), which was enacted in June that year. The Lifelong Learning Council was created under the provisions of this law in August the same year. The council produced a report titled "Measures to Promote Lifelong Learning in Response to Social Trends" in July 1992 and another titled "Measures to Improve Lifelong Learning Opportunities in the Community" in April 1996.

Local governments have also been working to establish implementation structures. All prefectural governments have now established bureaus or departments responsible for the promotion of lifelong learning, together with lifelong learning promotion conferences to facilitate coordination and cooperation among administrative agencies and other organizations. In recent years some local governments have created forums for discussion with private-sector companies, as well.

As of fiscal 1995, 33 of Japan's 47 prefectural governments had established lifelong learning councils, of which 20 have already produced reports. In addition, 42 have formulated promotion plans for lifelong learning. At the municipal level, lifelong learning promotion conferences or similar organizations had been established by 1,877 municipalities (58.6% of the total) as of fiscal 1995, while 1,036 (32.3%) had formulated lifelong learning promotion plans. As of July 1, 1996, 106 municipalities had drawn up lifelong learning declarations.