Over 100 local governments oppose change of the education law

Many local governments are expressing objection to reviewing and revising the Fundamental Law of Education under the name of the Koizumi administration's "educational reform", Akahata of June 14 reported.

A survey conducted by the All Japan Teachers and Staffs Union shows that more than 100 municipalities have expressed opposition to the revision or adopted a written request calling for the ideas of the education law to be realized.

The Saita Town Assembly in Kagawa Prefecture adopted an opinion note saying, "What is needed now is to reexamine all educational measures to ascertain if they have made use of the education law's idea and contents in post-war education."

Following a recommendation by the Central Education Council, the government is planning to adversely revise the Fundamental Law of Education to put greater emphasis on "patriotism".

The Fundamental Law of Education came into effect in 1947. Its objective is to contribute to world peace and human welfare by building a democratic and cultural nation, which the Constitution articulates as one of the ideals.

The education law states that "Education shall aim at the full development of personality, striving for the rearing of people, sound in mind and body, who shall love truth and justice, esteem individual value, respect labor, have a deep sense of responsibility, and be imbued with an independent spirit, as builders of the peaceful state and society." (end)