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PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture

Textbooks, as a primary source of instruction, play a vital role in the promotion of children's learning.

In April 1989 the Ministry drastically changed the existing textbook authorization system, upon the basis of the report of the National Council on Educational Reform, and simplified the procedures and the standards of authorization on a preferential basis. As of 1990, this new system was put into practice (progressively for different school levels) for the authorization of textbooks which are prepared in accordance with the revised Course of Study. In 1990 an authorization of textbooks for elementary education was conducted, and in 1991, textbooks submitted for authorization in 1990 were first exhibited to the public.

The Consultative Committee on the Textbook Adoption System, taking into account the recommendations of the National Council on Educational Reform, published a report on "the Adoption of Textbooks" in March 1990. It presented a number of proposals in three areas for improving the textbook adoption system. The three areas were: (l) enhancing textbook research by professional researchers; (2) ensuring justice and equity in the adoption of textbooks; and (3) making textbook adoption open. In response to this report, the Ministry has amended the relevant regulations so as to lengthen the interval of textbook adoption (from three to four years), and distributed guidance circulars among all the prefectural boards of education regarding the improvement.

Continuing since 1963, all children enrolled in compulsory schools have been provided with free textbooks for all school subjects.