What are the roles of Local Facilities Aid Division?
In this FUNDAMENTAL section, we explain fundamental facts about our financial support system for public elementary and secondary school facilities. This section may help you to find out what Local Facilities Aid Division is, as a part of MEXT.
The School Education Law, which was enacted in 1947, stipulates the most fundamental conditions for school education. Article 5 of the School Education Law states:
Article 5 The founders of schools shall manage the schools which they establish and defray the expenses of the schools except in cases specifically stipulated by laws or ordinances.
“Founders” in this Article mean the prefectures and municipalities where the schools are located. (“Schools” include kindergartens, elementary schools, secondary schools, schools for the blind, the deaf and schools for students with physical and mental disabilities.)
However, not only the prefectures and municipalities but also the National Government is responsible for providing the nation’s education services. Article 26 of Constitution of Japan states:
Article 26 All people shall have the right to receive an equal education correspondent to their ability, as provided by law.
All people shall be obligated to have all boys and girls under their protection receive ordinary education as provided for by law. Such compulsory education shall be free.
As stipulated above, the National Government together with the prefectures and municipalities has the responsibility to shoulder the expenses for compulsory education in order to guarantee all people the right to receive an education. As the quality of compulsory education services provided in regions with good financial situations could be different from other regions with severe financial situations, this could lead to unequal opportunity in education. In consideration of this point, the National Government is responsible for providing financial support for local governments, in areas such as the salary of school teachers, the expenses for textbooks, teaching materials, etc. to ensure equal opportunity.
The Local Facilities Aid Division is in charge of financial support for public elementary and secondary school facilities. This means that we have responsibilities for sharing expenses when school facilities such as school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories are constructed. Through this financial support, our division is exerting efforts to promote the smooth implementation of compulsory education, and to maintain and improve the level of education in Japan.
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