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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Annual Report on the Promotion of Science and Technology 2001 > Part1 Chapter2 Section6 1 | ![]() |
Young people are the carriers and appreciators of science
and technology in the future. Therefore, the education of science and technology,
and physical science is essential for fostering human resources of broad interest.
(Youth's Disinterest in Science and Technology, and Physical Science) |
It is widely known that those who have produced excellent
achievements in science and technology began to have interest in science in their
elementary school days. Meanwhile, youth's disinterest in science and technology,
and physical science has been pointed out recently.
The follow-up survey by the National Institute for Educational
Research indicates a tendency that as they advance in grade, their interest in
physical science diminishes ( Fig.
23 ).
Intellectual creativity is the most vital resources for Japan.
Therefore, it is a critical issue for Japan to cultivate interest and concern
about science and technology.
(International Comparison on Dreams for the 21st Century, of Junior and Senior High School Students) |
According to the survey (1999) conducted by the Japan Youth
Research Institute on the dreams for the 21st century among the junior and senior
high schools in Japan, Korea, the U.S. and China, Japanese youth have lost dreams
and are changing from the future-oriented to the present-oriented, and have also
lost the ideals of industrial society such as diligence and effort-making ( Fig.
24 ).
It is extremely important to let the youth acquire knowledge
enabling them to think by themselves about the relation between science and technology
and society, have a dream on science and technology, and expand their volition
to challenge it. In science education at school, experiential and problem-solving
type of study should be enriched through observations, experiments and theme-studies.
On top of that, it is also important for them to provide opportunities to come
in touch with science and technology through extracurricular activities at sites
such as high educational institutes, museums and science halls.
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