Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART I Chapter 1 Section 2 2

School education must be based on an education system that is capable of coping appropriately with change. In recent years many aspects of the environment surrounding Japan have undergone great change. One example is the process of internationalization. The world is shrinking rapidly because of advances in transportation and telecommunications and because of the expansion of economic and cultural exchange. One result is the increasing interdependence of the international community. Today no country can exist in isolation from the international community in any field of activity, including resources, energy, industry, education, and culture.

The role of education in relation to internationalization is to build a foundation for the qualities that people need in order to live in harmony with the citizens of other countries, with their diverse histories, cultures, and customs. We need to focus not only on the improvement of foreign language education but also on an approach that gives priority to the development of understanding and respect for the diversity of other cultures and lifestyles from the perspective of a thorough understanding of Japanese culture and traditions. It is vital that we strive to achieve further improvements in school education from this standpoint.In primary and secondary education, efforts to achieve these goals need to focus on the encouragement of a scientific way of perceiving and thinking and of interest in and curiosity about nature in ways that are appropriate to children's stage of development, in order to foster human resources capable of approaching science and technology with a sense of vision and enthusiasm and able to engage in original research.

Another important issue is our response to the shift to an information-oriented society. In addition to traditional information media, such as books, newspapers, radio, and television, we are witnessing the rapid expansion of new information media, including computers, advanced information networks, and satellite communications and broadcasting. This is leading to the formation of information networks that span the world.

The ability to make positive use of information and information media in this environment of proliferating information media and vast flows of information has become a vital requirement not only for work activities but also for everyday life. In the context of school education, too, we must endeavor to foster the basic qualities that enable people to choose and utilize information and information media positively, in other words, information literacy.

The aging of the population is another issue that must be addressed. Japan's population is aging at a pace that is without parallel in any other country. In October 1992, 13.5% of Japan's population was aged 65 or older, but the Institute of Population Problems of the Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates that people 65 or older will constitute 25.8% of the population in 2025.

One field in which it is necessary to prepare for the aging of society is primary and secondary education. From now on children will need to prepare themselves to enjoy fulfilling lives in an era when life expectancy will exceed 80 years by developing a solid foundation of the basic skills needed for this purpose through their school education. They must acquire the ability to learn independently throughout their lives and skills that will enable them to live fulfilling lives even in old age.

It is also important to foster consideration for the aged and help children to understand the significance of welfare and volunteer activities, and it is necessary to provide improved guidance in these areas. The fact that one-quarter of those participating in volunteer activities are involved in activities related to home care indicates that volunteer education needs to be expanded in preparation for the aging of society.

The global environment is also a key educational issue. There is a growing need for environmental protection on a global scale, and environmental problems are becoming sufficiently serious to jeopardize the survival of the human race. If we are to preserve the global environment while maintaining and improving living standards, we must all strive to make wise and efficient use of our precious heritage of nature and resources. In this sense, the development of people sensitive to and knowledgeable about environmental issues must be regarded as a vital priority. One of the most important tasks facing school education is to foster understanding of the roles and responsibilities of humanity toward the environment, willingness to participate in environment protection activities, and the ability to solve environmental problems.

The progress of science and technology also has implications for education. Japan's future as a science- and technology-oriented nation depends on the ability to make continued innovations in science and technology. Furthermore, the promotion of advanced scientific and technological research is extremely important to the solution of global environmental, energy, and food problems, to the expansion of the stock of knowledge as a shared asset of all humanity, and to the creation of an enriched society, including systems to meet the needs of a rapidly aging population.

In primary and secondary education, efforts to achieve these goals need to focus on the encouragement of a scientific way of perceiving and thinking and of interest in and curiosity about nature in ways that are appropriate to children's stage of development, in order to foster human resources capable of approaching science and technology with a sense of vision and enthusiasm and able to engage in original research.

The above examples illustrate the changes that are now taking place. Coping with these and other anticipated changes is an important task of primary and secondary education. Responses to some of the issues discussed here, such as internationalization, the shift to an information-oriented society, the aging of society, environmental education, and the encouragement of scientific skills, will be examined in part 2.