I n Japan, teaching licenses remain valid permanently, but this system is heading for change. The Central Council for Education has proposed making it mandatory that teaching licenses be renewed every 10 years. The proposed change would affect not only future teachers but also the nation's 1.1 million current teachers.
The council submitted the proposal to Education Minister Kenji Kosaka in mid-July, and a law incorporating the idea will be submitted to the ordinary Diet session next year. The council's teacher training committee says the new license system is aimed at enhancing the quality of teachers.
But there are problems. Will education authorities be able to create a mechanism that can fulfill the intended purpose? Another problem is that the new system may place more pressure on teachers as well as dampen their creativity and drive to improve their own abilities.