February 14 & 15, 2010

The All Japan Teachers and Staff Union (Zenkyo) on February 13 and 14 held its annual convention in Tokyo, focusing on the need to establish a better school environment in cooperation with parents and communities.

Zenkyo President Yamaguchi Takashi pointed out that the Hatoyama government makes light of the people’s right to education as stipulated by the Constitution and called on union teachers to work together with parents and local communities to change the present education policy to one making the best use of the Constitution.

Participants called for class sizes to be less than 30 pupils and also for a drastic increase in the number of teaching staff. They exchanged their experiences in their struggles: “We are fighting against the move to eliminate the system of maternity and child-care leaves (Osaka Pref.).” “Temporary teachers are not allowed to take maternity leave. If they want this, they have to leave the school. We are carrying out a campaign to end such an unreasonable treatment against part-time teachers (Shimane Pref.).”
- Akahata, February 14 & 15, 2010