CHAPTER EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND THE FUTURE EDUCATION IN JAPAN
1 Main Trends of Educational Reforms in Major Countries
(2) Content of Educational Reforms
c Promotion of Science and Technical Education
Scientific and technological innovation is a factor for social
and economic development of a nation, and a developed society seeks further improvement
of the nation as a whole. This requires a great number of scientific personnel
of creative ability. To meet this is a responsibility of education. Thus, the
promotion of scientific and technical education has become an urgent task of
education in most major countries.
In most countries an expansion of the colleges of science and
engineering and the establishment of new departments and courses for the training
of scientists have been effected. Wide-spread use of standardized tests to locate
capable students, expanded guidance services and increase of scholarship grants
for training able students, are measures taken in most countries. Post-graduate
courses at universities are being improved for the promotion of the basic studies
in science and technology and for the training of scholars and teachers, and
at the same time, to prepare technicians, a new type of college has been established
and part-time institutions for technical education are being remodeled. Besides,
in order to increase basic attainments in science and technical education, in
the United States, England and other countries the content and methodology of
elementary and secondary school courses in mathematics and science are in process
of radical revision. These are all parts of the trend toward quantitative and
qualitative improvement or education which affects all levels of education in
most countries today.