Ending a ban started during the turbulent 1960s, high school students will be allowed to participate in political activities in line with the lowering of the voting age for national elections to 18, according to a draft version of a new education ministry guideline.

In the first revision to the ministry's high school guideline for political activities in 46 years, students will still be prohibited from engaging in political activities at school, but they can engage in the process away from campus, according to the draft.

Teachers will be urged to refrain from expressing their personal political views in front of students to ensure the political neutrality of education, the draft says.

The ministry is expected to present the new guideline to prefectural boards of education soon.

The Diet's move in mid-June to lower the voting age from 20 was the biggest reform of Japan's election system in 70 years. The change will apply to the next Upper House election, to be held in 2016, enabling 2.4 million people aged 18 and 19 to join the electorate.

The draft says high school students can decide "voluntarily" whether to take part in political activities, but schools may prohibit such engagement if it is found to interfere with their studies.

The current guideline was issued in 1969 in response to university student movements against Japan's security alliance with the United States and other issues, which spread to some high school students who engaged in their own radical behavior, such as closing schools by setting up barricades.

The draft also emphasizes the need for schools to familiarize students with the public office election law.