An education ministry council has proposed reforms of Japan's university entrance exams, which are often criticized for placing too much emphasis on the mere academic knowledge of test-takers and rote learning.
The ideas behind the reforms seem valid. The question is whether the proposed reforms can be introduced without causing confusion among the exam-takers and the universities.
The ministry panel calls for launching the new system in 2020, but the government should not make hasty decisions but rather carefully assess whether it's practically feasible.