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

Education law society issues statement demanding bill to adversely revise Education Law be foiled

The Japan education law society, consisting of about 200 education scholars and law scholars, on May 30 published a statement demanding that the bills to adversely revise the Fundamental Law of Education be scrapped. The statement, approved by the society's general assembly on May 27, is the first since its founding in 1970. The society has mainly been concerned with academic research.

The statement points out that the bill contains "serious problems that cannot be overlooked," including the intention to control education by the power of law. It demands that both the government bill and the Democratic Party of Japan bill be immediately revoked.

At the news conference, President Ito Susumu, professor emeritus at Meiji University, said that the bill is inappropriate from an academic viewpoint, and that the education law society has expressed its position of demanding the bills to be revoked in order to fulfill the society's social responsibility.

Yotoriyama Yousuke, assistant professor at Niigata University, said, "This is a critical moment next only to constitutional mal-revision. If enacted, the law will deprive freedom and equality from the principles of education. Researchers must not remain silent about this."
- Akahata, May 31, 2006