Japan Press Weekly

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2008 April 2 - 8 [EDUCATION]

Citizens call for nationwide academic test to be cancelled

Representatives of the National Center for Children’s Rights, Education, and Culture on April 3 made representations to the Education Ministry calling for a halt to the annual nationwide academic achievement and aptitude test at elementary schools.

They also submitted signatures calling for the cancellation of the test. Adding the number they had already submitted last December, the total number of the signatures reached 54,241.

The academic test was conducted last year for the first time in 43 years for sixth and third graders throughout Japan. This year’s test is scheduled for April 22.

Prior to the representations, members of the National Center held a news conference and said that the academic test makes education more competitive and increases gaps among students, schools, and municipalities.

Horio Teruhisa, professor emeritus at Tokyo University, pointed out, “The United Nations has reported that the excessive competition in Japan’s education has led to a distortion of students’ personalities.”

“Amid the neo-liberal reforms under the government educational policies, the achievement and aptitude test is used to create gaps between children, teachers, and schools,” he said.

Horio also said that 1,369 people so far have supported an appeal in opposition to the academic test, which he issued in March with professors Komori Yoichi and Sato Manabu of Tokyo University.

The National Center for Children’s Rights, Education, and Culture consists of labor unions, women’s and educational organizations, and many other democratic organizations.
- Akahata, April 4, 2008