PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 6. Promotion of "Social Education"
1 Outline of Policies
Today, as a result of changes in society, including an increase
in leisure hours and the development of science and technology, learning demands
of people have become more diversified and advanced. In the context of urbanization,
increase in nuclear families and other social changes, children today are lacking
in opportunities to enjoy nature, and they are not in environments conducive
to the cultivation of basic skills for daily life.
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Education, Science
and Culture plans to develop its policies and measures in the fields of "social
education" (education for adults and out-of-school youths), placing emphasis
on: (1) the provision of diverse learning opportunities corresponding to an 80-year
life span, for adults, especially for the aged and women; (2) the stressing of
the educational functions of the family and the community; (3) the provision
of more and better facilities, leaders, and the creation of networks of "social
education" facilities; and (4) the effective use of various media for learning
activities.