One of the most controversial topic on education in Japan is to introduce compulsory English education classes into elementary school. At present most Japanese children learn English from junior high school.
The Central Council for Education, a council in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT, a Japanese ministry), recommended in March 2006 that MEXT introduce compulsory English classes from 5th to 6th grade.
But in September 2006, Bunmei Ibuki, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, expressed his opposition.
I heard that the majority of Japanese approved of making English education compulsory at elementary schools, according to public opinion polls.
Should MEXT introduce English education into elementary school?
(To be continued)
