October 3, 2019

The All Japan Teachers and Staffs Union (Zenkyo) has been promoting the campaign to collect signatures urgently demanding that the Education Ministry cancel its plan to introduce private-sector English tests as part of university entrance exams.

The ministry is planning to start using privately-prepared English proficiency tests in April 2020 as part of a new standardized university entrance exam system. The ministry already selected for use seven tests operated by private entities, including Benesse Corporation's GTEC.

Zenkyo cites the following problems associated with private-sector tests for college entrance:

- The examination contents vary depending on the test operator, accordingly amplifying anxieties and concerns about fairness;

- Doubt still remains about whether the use of private-sector English tests for college entrance is appropriate;

- All the decision-making as to how to operate English tests will be left to private entities, and there is no third-party monitoring system; and

- Examinees will have to shoulder the associated additional financial burdens such as test fees.

Zenkyo suggests that the introduction of private-sector English tests for university entrance exams should at least be postponed, and that the government should fundamentally review the move toward the "commercialization of education" and be responsible for improving the education system.

Zenkyo calls for active participation by educational experts in the signature-collection drive and in joint protests with students.

Past related article:
> Concern is growing over Japan's new standardized university entrance exam system [September 18, 2019]