education

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP proposes law setting maximum class size at 30

The Japanese Communist Party has published an outline of a law reducing the maximum class size at elementary and junior high schools to 30 students from the present 40 students.

The outline was announced by Ishii Ikuko, JCP vice chair, on September 6 at a news conference in Osaka.

Although local school districts in 45 prefectures have adopted the maximum class size of 30, they find it financially difficult to find the resources to completely implement this policy because the present national maximum remains at 40.

Ishii pointed out that the call for smaller class sizes is being overwhelmed by the Koizumi Cabinet's emphasis on cuts in public employees, and the government is backpedaling from the education minister's agreement on the need to promote smaller classes.

She said the Koizumi Cabinet, which gives priority to cutting the number of public service employees, is backpedaling from the education minister's remark that it would be necessary to make the maximum class size smaller. The education ministry's panel discussing teaching staff late last August published a report recommending that the "maximum class size at 40" should be maintained.

Ishii said the JCP's proposal for a maximum class size of "30-students" is financially feasible if the so-called "sympathy budget" for funding the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan and wasteful public works projects are substantially reduced. -- Akahata, September 7, 2005