Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SPORTS AND CULTURE 1996 > Priorities and Prospects for a Lifelong Learning Society Chapter 1 3

The concept of lifelong learning encompasses a wide spectrum of learning activities. For this reason the creation of a lifelong learning society is being approached in various ways by a diverse range of agencies and organizations, including not only MESSC and local government boards of education but also other central government agencies, local government departments, and private-sector agencies and organizations.

These efforts are helping to raise awareness of lifelong learning. A public opinion survey conducted by the Prime Minister's Office in February 1992 showed that the percentage of people who had heard the phrase "lifelong learning" had risen to 64.5% from 58% in 1988. Of course, the way the concept is interpreted will vary from person to person. Some people, for example, believe that lifelong learning targets limited segments of society, such as senior citizens. Setting aside these differences in interpretation, however, it seems that the phrase "lifelong learning" is becoming firmly rooted in Japanese society.

One future priority is to promote acceptance of the significance and importance of creating a lifelong learning society. It will also be necessary to promote learning activities in ways that reflect different learning formats and characteristics of learners in order to satisfy people's desire to learn as a way of acquiring knowledge and skills and of experiencing fulfillment and pleasure.

As discussed above, the concept of lifelong learning encompasses a wide spectrum of learning activities. It also involves a diverse range of agencies and organizations as providers of learning opportunities and of various forms of support, such as information, advice, and the evaluation of learning achievements. This rules out a uniform role for administrative agencies, and approaches are likely to differ depending on whether agencies belong to central, prefectural, or municipal governments. Those involved in the formulation of policies should always remain aware of these factors and strive to take a comprehensive approach.