b. The 1891 Revision of the 1886 Middle School Order

On December 14, 1891, a revision of the 1886 Middle School Order was promulgated, which came into force on April 1, 1892. Concerning the establishment of ordinary middle schools, it was made a fundamental principle by this revision that in each prefecture "there ought to be one prefectural school." However, according to the circumstances of the area and with the permission of the Minister of Education, the possibility of setting up several prefectural schools was recognized, and it was also allowed that not even one such school need be set up. In the case of counties (gun), cities, towns and villages, it was provided that ordinary middle schools "must not be established except in cases" where the establishment of such schools was necessary according to the circumstances of the area and they did not hinder the realization of elementary education facilities. These were in effect a relaxation of the limits placed on the establishment of ordinary middle schools. Moreover, according to this revision, it was also made possible to establish agriculture, engineering, commerce and other specialty courses (senshuka) in the ordinary middle schools. Subsequently, in March, 1894, under Education Minister lnoue Kowashi were issued the 1894 Subjects and Their Standards for Ordinary Middle Schools, which introduced a vocational course (jikka) into the ordinary middle school curriculum in April of that year and thereby strengthened the curriculum opportunities for those who wished to go directly into society upon graduation.