The education ministry appears set to approve the opening of a veterinary school at the center of cronyism allegations levied at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, sources said.

A ministry panel will endorse a revised plan for the school operated by Kake Gakuen, which is run by Abe's close friend Kotaro Kake, the sources said Thursday. It would be the nation's first new veterinary school in half a century.

The panel's decision is likely to be reported to education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi by Nov. 10 at the earliest. But opposition parties are sure to grill the government on the matter as doubts remain over allegations that Abe inappropriately wielded his influence in the decision-making process .