Chen Nan's Instructional Technology Blog: IT Educational Policies in Japan

Values given to education and IT

According to Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, due to progress in the information technology revolution, a wide range of activities, from daily life to economic activities, are being influenced by the movement to a knowledge-based society driven by the forces of knowledge and information. Thus, there is a strong demand for the abilities to obtain and understand knowledge and information as well as the abilities to transmit information and to engage in communication. The Science and Technology Basic plan is drawn up based on the Science and Technology Basic Law every five year in Japan. There are two steps to draw up the basic plan. First, Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) deliberates the basic policy about science and technology. Second, based on that, the government formulates and decides a basic plan. A full account of the 3rd Science and Technology Basic Plan (FY2006-FY2010) can be found in the following link:

Full Text (Provisional translation) (PDF) (English Translation was revised on September,2006)

Role of teachers

Teachers are considered to be playing a major role in promoting the relevant IT educational policies in Japan. They believe cultivating "Japanese with English Abilities" is an extremely important issue for the future of their children and for the further development of their country. However, they also state that this issue will only be resolved when the relevant parties related to English education (such as relevant personnel in national, public, and private elementary, junior high, senior high schools, and universities as well as relevant personnel in local municipal bodies) seek to realize this goal by making improvements to the system from their respective positions. A detailed description is given in the following link:

Improving the teaching ability of English teachers and upgrading the teaching system

Roles of students

Students are the real field players in the 21st century. Policies have made explicit requirements for English language abilities required for all Japanese people. With the progress of globalization, it is important, while focusing on speaking and listening communication abilities in the initial learning stages, to acquire comprehensive communication abilities in "istening," "speaking," "reading," and "writing," from the perspective of "English as a means for communication," in order to foster "Japanese with English Abilities." Through instruction, basic and practical communication abilities will be acquired so that the entire public can conduct daily conversation and exchange information in English. At the same time, personnel who need English for their work, such as for professional or research reasons, will acquire the English necessary for their fields by building on their basic English abilities. It is important for all Japanese people to aim at achieving a level of English commensurate with average world standards based on objective indicators such as STEP, TOEFL, and TOEIC.

Japan's Education at a Glance 2005

Roles of language and language learning

English has played a central role as the common international language in linking people who have different mother tongues. For children living in the 21st century, it is essential for them to acquire communication abilities in English as a common international language. In addition, English abilities are important in terms of linking Japan with the rest of the world, obtaining the world’s understanding and trust, enhancing its international presence and further developing Japan. The following links are government documents concerning education reform plan in PDF forms:

The Education Reform Plan for the 21st Century---The Rainbow Plan---

White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2005