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 3 Section 1 3

The creation of systems for coordination and cooperation among institutions and organizations involved in lifelong learning, including government agencies and boards of education, is a vital aspect of support for learning activities. All prefectural governments have established lifelong learning promotion conferences and other organizations. Similar organizations have been established in 1,877 municipalities, or 58.6% of the total. At present, however, there is not always coordination and cooperation among these institutions and organizations.

Coordination and cooperation with private-sector education enterprises is also important to establishment of such a system. In 1995, 24 of the 33 prefectures with lifelong learning councils included representatives of private-sector education enterprises as members, while only 13 of Japan's 47 prefectures had systems for exchanging views and information with such enterprises. It is necessary to build and improve organizational systems for coordination and cooperation among the agencies and organizations involved.

The traditional system, in which municipalities are the main units, is not always adequate for efforts to enhance learning opportunities in response to the increasing diversity and sophistication of learning needs. Prefectural governments should take the initiative in meeting the diverse needs of learners, improving communication and coordination in order to provide a system in which municipalities can coordinate their efforts to provide learning opportunities and ensuring that institutions of higher education and companies participate in the system.

MESSC is currently conducting a practical study called "Developing Lifelong University Systems at the Regional Level" as part of efforts to create such a system. It will be necessary to encourage prefectural governments to implement measures based on the findings of this study.

The aim of regional basic plans for the promotion of regional lifelong learning based on the Lifelong Learning Promotion Law, is to contribute to the enhancement of comprehensive learning opportunities for regional residents by enabling prefectural governments to make increased use of various learning institutions in cooperation with private-sector corporations and other organizations. Such basic plans will lead not only to the enhancement of learning opportunities but also to the increased availability of a diverse range of learning opportunities, which currently tend to be concentrated in Tokyo and other big cities. The approval of the plan formulated by the Hiroshima prefectural government in April 1996 is expected to prompt other prefectures to formulate their own plans.