Japan Press Weekly

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2011 October 26 - November 1 [EDUCATION]

Osaka governor clashes with educational board members

Confrontations are escalating between Osaka Prefectural Governor Hashimoto Toru, who wants to control education, and the prefecture’s education board members who want to stop him.

The Osaka Ishin-no Kai (Osaka Restoration Group) led by Hashimoto has submitted a bill, “fundamental ordinance on education”, to the prefectural assembly in September with the intent of having public schools obey the dictates of the governor.

Opposing political intervention in public education, all members of the board of education, except for an education secretary, have announced that they will all resign from the board if Hashimoto does not withdraw the bill.

Hashimoto is planning to resign as governor and run for the Osaka City Mayoral election scheduled for late November. The bill in question will likely be a focal issue in the election campaign.

The board members on October 25 urgently released an anti-bill opinion statement. Hashimoto on the following day flared up at them, claiming that they are disrupting his election campaign.

The opinion states that the bill will open the way for the governor to exercise his power over all prefecture-operated schools. It is concerned about the governor not providing funding for schools whose principals are outspoken in regard to education issues.

The opinion warns that if the bill incorporates education in political items, educational policy will change according to who governs the prefecture.

The opinion expresses concern that public school workers would be intimidated to serve the interests of the governor and political developments rather than education.

The opinion in its conclusion calls on Osaka prefectural citizens to become involved in the debate.

Regarding the last part of the opinion, Hashimoto said in anger, “This is calling on voters to not support the Osaka Ishin-no Kai (in the election),”and then stated that the board members’ position would harm his election campaign.

He attacked the board of education, saying, “If they want to take on me in a political battle, I will accept their challenge.”