The Education Reform Plan for the 21st Century -The Rainbow Plan-

<Purpose>
Year 2001= The First Year for Education Reform Initiative
Year 2001= The First Year for Education Reform Initiative. Based on the recommendation of “The Final Report of the National Commission on Education Reform,” the overall picture of the future efforts needed for education reform is presented, consisting of major policies, actions and schedule.
<The reform needs to be implemented quickly and decisively according this plan.>

The First Stage
○ Actions to be taken immediately
- Submit the 6 bills related to Education Reform at the regular Diet session
- Secure the budget required for Education Reform in the FY2001 budget


The Second Stage
○ Review the Fundamental Law of Education and develop a Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of Educational Measures (These tasks will be studied at the Central Council for Education)
○ Possible actions that require further consideration should be confirmed by experts in FY2001
○ (cf: a system for encouraging youth over 18 years-old to participate in community services)



1. Improve students' basic scholastic proficiency 'in easy to understand classes'
○ Implement the 20 students per class system for fundamental subjects and advance placement classes
○ Improve classrooms in order to be able to conduct IT classes and the 20 students per class system (establish “A Learning Environment for the New Generation”)
○Implement national academic achievement surveys

2. Foster youth into becoming open and warm-hearted Japanese through participating in community services and various programs
○ Encourage youth to participate in community services and various programs (or consider such a system) and establish the “Children's Dream Fund”
○ Improve moral education (for example, development and distribution of the “Kokoro no Note”(Notebook to be used by students in moral education.))
○ Take actions for educational revitalization in the home and in the community

3. Improve learning environment to one which is enjoyable and free of worries
○ Enrich cultural and sporting activities (encourage school club activities)
○ Take appropriate measures concerning problematic behaviors among children (improvement of the suspension system and measures to care such children) ○ Protect children from harmful information

4. Make schools that can be trusted by parents and communities
○ Implement school evaluation system, including the establishment of the self-evaluation system and introduction of school councilors
○ Revitalize the school board by means of parental participation and disclosure of information
○ Promote the establishment of new types of schools to fit the needs of the different communities

5. Train teachers as real “professionals” of education
○ Introduce an awards system, a bonus and a special promotion system for outstanding teachers
○ Establish a system where teachers have working community experience(cf: take working experience at companies)
○ Take appropriate measures on incompetent teachers, such as teaching suspensions

6. Promote the establishment of universities of International standard
○ Reinforce university education and research functions for bringing up leaders of the next generation (improve the system for admitting 17-year-old students into universities, universally introduce a system for admitting students who have finished their third year into graduate school, and establish professional schools)
○ Establish a competitive environment (grant national universities the status of independent administrative corporations, promote fixed-term employment so that professors can transfer easily, increase competitive grants)
○ Implement a strict grading system for university students and focus on the teaching abilities of academic

7. Establish an educational philosophy suitable for the new century and improve the provision for education
○ Review the Fundamental Law of Education and modify the Law into one suitable for the new century
○ Develop a Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of Educational Measures

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