A draft proposal by the Liberal Democratic Party to amend the Constitution falls short of its campaign promise in the general election last year to realize "free education" but merely obliges the government to make efforts to improve education environment and ensure that each individual will have access to education opportunities irrespective of their economic conditions. The LDP put free education among one of its four priority area of amendment, but backed off from stipulating the goal in view of opposition on the grounds of huge additional expenses needed to make preschool and higher education free of charge.
Article 26 says that "All people shall have the right to receive an equal education correspondent to their ability, as provided for by law. All people shall be obliged to have all boys and girls under their protection receive ordinary education as provided for by law. Such compulsory education shall be free." The proposed revision seems to add so little in substance — the Basic Law of Education already provides against discrimination in access to education for economic reasons — that it's doubtful whether the Constitution needs to be amended just to add what it says. Efforts to pursue free education — which have already been launched by the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — should be discussed independent of the debate over constitutional revision.
The LDP has set four priority areas in the discussion for amending the Constitution — the war-renouncing Article 9, providing for emergency powers in times of national crises, free education and ensuring that at least one member is elected from each prefecture in an Upper House election — as the party seeks to compile its draft amendment for discussion with other parties in the Diet.