|
|
|
| |
| |
Statements Archive |
LAST UPDATE
December 29, 2006
|
|
|
| December 29, 2006 |
Peace Boat's statement in protest of the enforced revision of the Fundamental Law of Education and seeking its repeal |
|
| |
Japan's historical recognition, including the textbook problem arising from this, is an issue which has remained a major point of discussion in recent decades. When Former Prime Minister Koizumi persisted in visiting Yasukuni Shrine, wherein war criminals are enshrined, this issue developed into a diplomatic problem and led to a cooling in relations with both China and Korea. Succeeding Koizumi, the current Prime Minister Abe positioned the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education as the most important bill for the current Diet session. This led to heated discussions within the whole Diet, with a focus the government's involvement in education and particularly how to teach patriotism. All the opposition parties argued strongly against this reform bill, and decided to be absent from the session of the special committee to voice its opposition. Civil society also presented its appeals of protest against this reform. However, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) passed this bill at the session on December 15, 2006.
|
site design imagesparkle.com |
Further to the November 15, 2006 special committee for the Fundamental Law of Education, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komei Party enforced a vote on the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education at the House of Representatives the following day, despite the absence of all members of opposing parties. We are strongly opposed to such disregard of democracy. The proposed revision of this law contains many problems, and we can not allow this law to be passed by the Diet without sufficient debate or representation of citizens` voices. Although the ruling parties claimed that necessary discussions had been made at the at the special committee of the extraordinary session of the Diet, issues such as the 'Staged Questioning at Town Meetings' and 'Bullying and Suicides' took up the majority of the discussion, it is clear that the main problems of this law were not allowed sufficient deliberation.
Revision of the Fundamental Law of Education is a serious issue, which will greatly affect our future, the futures of young people and of our children. Education should never be subject to the opinions of politicians in power at the time. The greatest concern with this revision is that it enables the government to intervene in the education system with no restrictions. Such political intervention can lead to distortion of equality of educational opportunities, accelerate elitism and diplomaism, as well as intensify the competitiveness of education. It could also lead to an increase in suicides due to bullying or invite further breakdowns in classrooms, topics which are currently high on the public agenda, rather than solving those problems.
Furthermore, we also fear that the legal enforcement of the twenty moral education articles, including the nurturing of patriotism, will threaten our freedom of thought and beliefs. In addition, to emphasize and legalize 'patriotism' does not fit the the needs of the twenty-first century, where international understanding and awareness of global citizenship awareness is needed. Thus we call strongly for the rejection of the revised Fundamental Law of Education, a bill which could lead to the creation of 'conforming citizens' and the resurrection of nationalism in this country, and for a renewed debate around this issue.
We strongly protest against the enforced revision of the Fundamental Law of Education and seek for the draft revision to be repealed.
November 17, 2006
NGO Peace Boat
|
| |
|
|
|
