September 22, 2021
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Hatano Kimie, in charge of a JCP Dietmembers' taskforce on education and science policies, met with representatives of the Faculty and Staff Unions of Japanese Universities (Zendaikyo) and of the Japan Federation of Private University Teachers' and Employees' Unions (Shidai-kyoren), respectively, on September 21, discussing ways to regain the autonomy of universities and restore the educational research environment which the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties have greatly weakened.
Zendaikyo Chair Torihata Yoichi explained serious problems national universities are facing in which many universities cannot fill vacant positions despite hiring retired teaching staff due to cuts in government funds for daily educational and research activities as well as the competitive funding system.
Shidai-kyoren Chair Shimoji Masaki pointed out that as in national universities, the performance-based allocation of government subsidies has been gaining hold in private universities. Shimoji called for cooperation with all universities and political circles to demand that the government provide more support to financially-struggling local private colleges, improve the tuition-exemption program, and introduce tuition-free higher education.
Both unions pointed to the fact that neo-liberal economic "university reform" of recent years has been depriving universities of their independent research environment, stressing the need to restore autonomy to universities.
Hatano said she understood well their point that cuts in the government budget for universities along with misdirected "university reform" have had negative impacts on Japan's academic performance. She said, "Our party will make efforts to improve the educational and research environment and realize tuition-free higher education in cooperation with various strata of people."
Zendaikyo Chair Torihata Yoichi explained serious problems national universities are facing in which many universities cannot fill vacant positions despite hiring retired teaching staff due to cuts in government funds for daily educational and research activities as well as the competitive funding system.
Shidai-kyoren Chair Shimoji Masaki pointed out that as in national universities, the performance-based allocation of government subsidies has been gaining hold in private universities. Shimoji called for cooperation with all universities and political circles to demand that the government provide more support to financially-struggling local private colleges, improve the tuition-exemption program, and introduce tuition-free higher education.
Both unions pointed to the fact that neo-liberal economic "university reform" of recent years has been depriving universities of their independent research environment, stressing the need to restore autonomy to universities.
Hatano said she understood well their point that cuts in the government budget for universities along with misdirected "university reform" have had negative impacts on Japan's academic performance. She said, "Our party will make efforts to improve the educational and research environment and realize tuition-free higher education in cooperation with various strata of people."
