Abe's reply shows inadvisability of revising education law: JCP Shii

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Abe's reply shows inadvisability of revising education law: JCP Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on October 30 commented on Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's remarks in response to his questions at the Lower House Special Committee meeting, saying, "It became clearer than ever that revising the Fundamental Law of Education will pose an obstacle to solving the issue of student suicides caused by bullying in schools."

At a press conference in the Diet building, Shii pointed out that an adverse revision of the Education Law will increase the tendency to evaluate teachers based on the number of bullying cases in their classrooms, making it harder for schools to grasp the situation of bullying.

The prime minister had to acknowledge the need to detect and deal with bullying as early as possible rather than just checking the number of bullying cases.

"He could not explain about the contradiction between this need and the revision of the education law that imposes on schools throughout Japan a system to evaluate teachers and schools based on the number of bullying cases," said Shii.

He criticized the prime minister for failing to provide any persuasive answers regarding students' sources of stress, a cause of school bullying, and a competition-driven education that is widely recognized as a source of their stress.

Shii stressed the need to thoroughly discuss what effect the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education will bring about.
- Akahata, October 31, 2006