|
On November 13, voting on a legislative proposal for a partial revision of the law regarding the implementation of free tuition in public high schools and assistance for those attending private high schools took place in the House of Representatives Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The ruling party proposal was approved by a majority. Following the vote, a motion to include supplementary resolutions was introduced by the DPJ, LDP, New Komeito, Your Party, the People’s Life Party and the SDP, and this was also approved by a majority vote.
The DPJ’s Makiko Kikuta stood to make a speech against the proposed revision, immediately following the final question and answer session regarding the legislation. She stated that the philosophy of the system to make high school tuition free of charge, which had been realized as permanent legislation under the DPJ administration in 2010, was that children’s right to education should be safeguarded, with the income of parents and guardians having as little impact as possible. If the introduction of the income caps including in the government proposal would lead to many children being unable to receive public support, this would be a huge step back from the philosophy of the original legislation, and thus, “totally unacceptable” she argued.
Furthermore, Kikuta also referred to the global situation, pointing out that high school education at state schools is free in most major developed nations. She stressed that if the revision proposal was passed, this would run counter to the thrust of the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights, which calls for the gradual implementation of free middle and high school education. Moreover, this action would send a message to the world that Japan’s education policy had regressed. Kikuta also expressed the fear that the change would affect students’ career choices, overburden schools with paperwork and have a negative impact on children’s mental state.
Kikuta expressed her support for government measures to increase support for low and medium income families and to correct disparities between students attending public and private schools. However, she also criticized the government stance, stating, “I have to say that stating measures to introduce income caps are needed because the education budget is limited, while on the other hand increasing the budget for public works projects and the like, demonstrates a backward-looking stance toward education, one that treats the individual disrespectfully. Kikuta stressed: “Instead of distorting the [original] intent [of the legislation] and deciding to immediately implement income caps, I believe that proper education policy involves the ruling and opposition camps thoroughly cooperating and discussing this matter, and improving the system of free tuition by looking at the way in which education takes place, considering the importance of investing in people, and reviewing the distribution of resources.” She ended her speech by saying, “Manpower is itself an important resource for our nation. Education is investment in our future. The DPJ will continue to work toward free tuition and reducing the burden that education places on parents and guardians.”
|
