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PART lssues and Perspectives of Elementaryand Secondary Education

In April 1989, the Minister of Education, Science and Culture asked the Central Council for Education to deliberate on "the reform of the educational system in response to the new age". He specified the following two items as the key issues for its deliberation : the reform of upper secondary education and its relationship to higher education. He asked the Council to examine the establishment of four-year upper secondary schools in addition to the current three-year upper secondary schools, the reorganization of the course system, policies for setting up new types of upper secondary schools, and positive utilization of the present credit system and special treatment of the gifted.

The Minister asked the Council to focus on upper secondary education because the issues being openly raised are concentrated at this level.

The task posed on us is to constantly review school education from various viewpoints and to make necessary improvement, including the reform of the education system itself, and thus to create appropriate environments for pupils to grow soundly and bear the future of our country.