JCP demands thorough discussion of education bill

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JCP demands thorough discussion of education bill

On November 6, the ruling parties made a proposal that the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Fundamental Law of Education put a bill to revise the education law to the vote on November 10.

At a press conference later in the day, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi denounced the proposal stating that this is absolutely unacceptable. Emphasizing the need to thoroughly discuss the bill, Ichida stated that the JCP will make utmost efforts to get the bill scrapped.

In the field of education, serious issues that have to do with the Fundamental Law of Education have been arising one after another.

At a lower house special committee meeting on November 6, JCP Vice Chair Ishii Ikuko revealed that the Education Ministry had drawn up a schedule for the next year that includes the formulation of a basic plan for promotion of education on the premise that the bill to revise the education law will be enacted in November. Ishii showed the ministry documents she had obtained.

Ishii criticized the government for ignoring the Diet, saying, "It is outrageous for the ministry to expect that the education bill will be enacted within this month."

"Unless the ministry makes a thorough report on how and why this happened, I cannot continue to discuss the bill any further," Ishii stressed.

Education Minister Ibuki Bunmei in reply said that it was the first time he saw the documents.
- Akahata, November 7, 2006