Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2014 May 14 - 20 [EDUCATION]

JCP publishes appeal opposing adverse revision of education-related laws

The Japanese Communist Party on May 13 published an appeal calling on the public to jointly fight against bills that will destroy university autonomy.

The government submitted to the current Diet session a set of bills to revise the School Education Law and the National University Corporation Law.

At a press conference held in the Diet building, JCP Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki criticized the bills as “jeopardizing academic freedom guaranteed by Article 23 of the Japanese Constitution.” He added, “The JCP will develop a joint effort with a wide range of people regardless of their political affiliation in order to protect university autonomy.”

The JCP spokesman pointed out that the School Education Law revision bill aims to strip faculty councils of their authority to discuss major matters related to university administration, and that the bill for revision of the National University Corporation Law will turn elections for the post of president into a sham.

Yamashita stressed that with the revision, the government intends to change universities to places conducting studies and research bringing immediate profits to the business circles. He said, “What the state should do is to preserve academic freedom and provide financial support for university’s diverse development.

Past related article:
> Abe gov’t proposes bill to destroy university autonomy [April 26, 2014]