教員免許更新制度の政策過程に関する予備的考察 : 2004年中央教育審議会諮問に至る経緯

Abstract

In 2000, the National Commission on Educational Reform proposed that 'the introduction of a system for renewing a teacher's license should be considered.' Prompted by the proposition, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology consulted the Central Council for Education on this topic. In response, the council submitted a report in 2002 'About the Ideal Method of the Future Teacher's License System' and deferred introducing a system of license renewal. However, in 2004 the Minister consulted the council on this issue again, and the policy was overturned in favor of introducing the license renewal system. Although at the present time (2006) no law introducing the system has been enacted as yet, it is worth considering why the policy issue was taken up for discussion again in 2004. From a historical point of view, a system for renewing a teacher's license was adopted at one time, it was abolished because of the reduction of the retention rate of teachers. In the 1980's the system for renewing was raised for discussion by government party (Liberal Democratic Party) members and some members of the Central Council for Teacher Training, however, in general, people did not recognize the system as necessary. After the proposition by the National Commission on Educational Reform in 2000, the idea that teachers should be required to renew their licenses, to root out inadequate or illqualified teachers, became more widespread. In 2002, the Central Council for Education decided against introducing the system and proposed alternative methods to ensure the quality of teachers. Because the conclusion of the council was reached not only by council members but also under the influence of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, some members of the council were critical of the decision. From the years 2002-2004, no action was taken to introduce the system, nor did the Ministry assess whether the alternative methods were working adequately, leaving it unclear as to why the subject was once again taken up for discussion. Why did this policy come up? One contributing factor might be that the Japan Business Federation and the Kansai Association of Corporate Executives supported the introduction of the system. Another significant factor is that the Minister belongs to the Liberal Democratic Party, which has been insisting upon the introduction of the system since the 1980's. They claim that the system is necessary, however the system's purpose, why it is essential, and whether the license renewal system is efficient or not, are all questions that remain ambiguous.