The government should let children start their nine-year mandatory education when they turn 5, one year earlier than the current system, according to a draft report drawn up by an advisory panel on education to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

The report, which was released Wednesday by the panel on education reform, also wants the government to abolish the age limit preventing people from entering universities or colleges before they turn 18.

The report proposes that all people aged 18 be required in the future to take part in social activities, such as farming and cleaning, for a one-year period.

The draft says elementary and junior high school students should be required to take part in social services for two weeks and high school students for a month to help children learn to be independent in society.

Many panel members said it would be necessary to revise the Fundamental Law of Education, established in 1947, the draft says.

The 26-member panel, which is headed by Nobel Physics Prize Laureate and former Tsukuba University President Reona (Leo) Esaki, was launched by the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi in March.

"However, the revisions would not directly lead to solving the various educational problems Japan faces today. It is necessary to draw up a specific plan to achieve a full-fledged reform of education," the report says.

One of the panel's working subgroups said the Japanese have "lost the power to think for themselves and to endure hardships."

The group says families are the "starting point of any kind of education," and calls on families not to commit any acts of bullying.

The group proposes that elementary schools have classes in morality, that junior high schools have humanities classes and that high schools have classes about people's daily lives.

It also advocates that an education day be officially established.

Another working subgroup proposes evaluating schools and teachers in an effort to improve the level and quality of education they offer.

It says incompetent teachers should be urged to quit or change jobs.

The third working subgroup proposes combining the curricula of junior high schools and high schools.

Drastic measures should be taken to have combined six-year schools account for 50 percent of the total number of junior high and high schools in Japan, it said.

The group also says the panel would like to allow people to enter universities or colleges in September so that students who studied abroad will be able to enter such institutions smoothly.

The panel will submit the draft report to Mori in September as an interim report, after discussing it at its general meeting to be held in late August.