The recent revelation that the government has manipulated the process of promoting education reform raises the basic question of whether the government is morally qualified for education-related administration at a time when the Diet is discussing a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education.
The bill's aim of instilling love of nation in children threatens to impose on them the government's view of the correct attitude toward the Japanese nation. Article 16 of the bill, which in part says that education should be carried out according to stipulations in not only the basic law but also other laws, causes another concern. Although it says education should not be subject to improper control, it could lead to unlimited government control of education through enactment of any education-related legislation sought by the government.
Recently it was learned that the government rigged a government-sponsored town meeting for education reform held in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, on Sept. 2.