Education Minister Nobutaka Machimura told an advisory panel Wednesday to come up with concrete recommendations on mandatory community service by elementary through high school students.
The Central Education Council was also told to make suggestions about another part of the controversial plan that would require young people over 18 to engage in community services for limited periods of time.
Machimura, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, wants the resulting recommendations on measures to achieve four ends -- promote community services by children and youths, improve the licensing of educators, reform the higher-education system and promote children's health.