2 The Educational Policy of the New Meiji Government

The new Meiji government founded on the premise of restoring the Imperial institution was faced with a complex task. Both reform and reaction played a role in the effort to develop a national policy and a modern nation which could adapt to the conditions of the outside world. The basic policy of the new government was made clear in the Imperial Oath of Five Articles (Gokajo no Goseimon) declared by the Emperor on April 6, 1868. Each of the five articles of the Imperial Oath had an important bearing on education, and Article 5, "Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world in order that the welfare of the Empire may be promoted," clearly specified the goal of modernizing national education through introducing modern Western civilization.

Article 3 stated that, "All classes of people shall be allowed to fulfill their just aspirations so that there may be no discontent." This statement indicated a desire to broaden the base of educational policy beyond the traditional elite.

The new government wished to develop education for all the people based on the concept of Civilization and Enlightenment so as to create a strong modern nation. To this end the new government developed an educational policy of assuming direct control of all national education and promoting schooling for the general populace. To begin with, the government planned to found higher educational institutions as a means of introducing Western culture and preparing students for leadership. At the same time elementary schools were scheduled to be opened in government controlled prefectures for children of all classes. But until the dissolution of the fief system when all the education in the country came under the direct control of the new government, it was impossible to achieve a functioning nationwide educational policy or to establish a modern educational system.

Meanwhile, a growing number of disputes among conservative and reformist elements created a rather confused prospect for the future of the new education. In 1871 following the Abolition of the Fiefs and the Establishment of Prefectures (Haihan Chiken), the new government established the Department of Education and placed it in charge of all the nation's educational activities. The Education System Order envisioned for the first time the establishment of a modern educational system.

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