PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 2. Promotion of Lifelong Learning
2 Development of Infrastructures for Lifelong Learning
(1) Development of Mechanisms for Promoting Lifelong Learning
The Law Concerning the Development of Mechanisms and Measures
for Promoting Lifelong Learning was enacted in June 1990 and put into effect
on July 1, 1990. This law mainly provides for s prefectural programs for contributing
to the promotion of lifelong learning; prefectural basic plans for the promotion
of lifelong learning activities at the community level l and the creation of
the Lifelong Learning Council, an advisory organ to the Minister of Education,
Science and Culture. The Lifelong Learning Council was set up in the Ministry
in accordance with this law in August 1990, and started deliberating on "measures
for promoting lifelong learning corresponding to future social trends". At the
prefectural level, ordinances for setting up prefectural councils for lifelong
learning have been enacted in six prefectures. These are Hokkaido, Chiba, Toyama,
Nagano, Kyoto, and Tottori, and many other prefectures are moving in this direction.
In order to promote lifelong learning, in July 1988 the Ministry
created a Lifelong Learning Bureau by reorganizing and expanding the Social Education
Bureau. It has also been encouraging and assisting prefectural and municipal
governments to create mechanisms for liaison and coordination of lifelong learning
programs. The Ministry has also implemented a program of model municipalities
for promoting 1ife1ong learning. It is expected, under the Law Concerning the
Development of Mechanisms and Measures for Promoting Lifelong Learning, that
relevant mechanisms and measures will be further developed.