Education chief Atsuko Toyama asked her advisory panel Monday to recommend within a year whether Japan's "education constitution" aimed at creating a democratic and peaceful nation should be revised, officials said.
The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry hopes to submit a bill to the Diet in 2003 to amend the 1947 Fundamental Law of Education after receiving suggestions from the Central Council for Education.
Toyama told the council a study of revisions to the law is necessary to deal with changes in the times and society as well as to nurture creativity and foster respect for tradition and culture -- qualities she said are required for the nation's citizens.