Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2001 >Chapter3 Section2.1

In order to keep up with advancements in science, industry and culture, the Courses of Study quantitatively improved the contents of learning in the 1960s and 1970s. At the same time, however, this revision invited the criticism that the amount and level of the curriculum was beyond children's capacity.

  In response to such criticism, the Courses of Study has been revised continuously since the 1970s, with a view to realizing education free from time constraints and emotional pressure by carefully selecting the contents of curriculum and reducing the number of class hours. Such educational circumstances are aimed at improving children's motivation for learning and the ability to think and judge with a full understanding of basic knowledge.

  However, judging from the present state of children described in Section 1, the goal has not been fully achieved yet.

  Under this circumstance, the new Courses of Study selects the contents of learning that are taught to all children even more meticulously so that every child can acquire the fundamentals and basics of education. It also introduces experiential, problem-solving learning to get children to process knowledge in their head. Furthermore, it tries to cultivate: {1} an ability to learn, think, judge and act on their own and to solve a problem; {2} enriched humanity with self-discipline, cooperative personality, and kindness and care toward others; and {3} a "zest for living" such as health and physical strength for a better life. In order to realize these objectives, the new Courses of Study takes the following measures:

  The new Courses of Study puts an emphasis on stringent selection of educational content and assured acquisition of fundamentals and basics in elementary and lower secondary schools, while opening a gate for more advanced learning in accordance with students' ability by expanding elective courses in lower and upper secondary schools.