Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2001 >Chapter7 Section1

MEXT is: {1} exchanging a wide range of views on educational reform and explaining the content of this reform based on the Education Reform Plan for the 21^st Century to groups and individuals such as Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), parents and local business people at Educational Reform Forums, held in various places throughout Japan and at which the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, herself, participated; {2} hosting discussion groups between economic organizations and MEXT to seek an understanding and cooperation among businesses to promote educational reform; and {3} actively informing the public through the mass media.

  The Educational Reform Forums have been held on 80 occasions in all 47 prefectures of Japan since the establishment of the Education Reform Plan for the 21^st Century in end of July 2001. The events have attracted 45,540 participants.

Minister Toyama giving a lecture at the Educational Reform Forum.

Public Relations pamphlet for Educational Reform, "We Want Your Opinions" (front page picture)

  Various views and questions concerning the methods of implementing educational reform, the so-called academic ability problems, education in the home, the quality of teaching staff and the creation of schools more open to the community have been presented during the Educational Reform Forums. These forums demonstrated the high interest of participants in educational reform.

  From the views and questions expressed by participants, it has become apparent that the public holds the following hopes and expectations for educational reform. Firstly, there have been many voices asking for the early realization of the Education Reform Plan for the 21^st Century, with especially high expectations for the improvement of the quality of teaching staff and measures against harmful information. Secondly, against the backdrop of a growing understanding that it is necessary to change the awareness of society as a whole for the realization of educational reform, many participants have reinforced their beliefs that education starts in the family. Thirdly, many participants expressed a high expectation for the implementation of educational reform as a national movement and for the continuing and frequent provision of opportunities such as the Educational Reform Forum. MEXT will continue to actively engage in these activities to meet the public's hopes and expectations.