PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 2 Promotion of Lifelong Learning
3 Development of Infrastructures for Lifelong Learning
(4) Evaluation of Lifelong Learning Achievements
In switching over to a lifelong learning system, it is important
to reconsider the notion that formal educational institutions are indispensable
for all education. It is also necessary to evaluate people's lifelong learning
achievements in a wide ranging perspective. In the Report of the Lifelong Learning
Council, a variety of strategies were set down for evaluating lifelong learning
achievements.
The Ministry has established a "system for evaluation and certification
of skills in various types of fields" and based on this system is promoting a
program for examination and certification of knowledge and skills in 14 fields
including "practical English." Furthermore, since 1991 the Ministry has carried
out "Comprehensive Projects for Promoting Volunteer Activities for Lifelong Learning " as
a means towards laying the groundwork for various groups of people to share the
fruits of their learning through various activities in the community.