Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the third meeting of the Council for the Implementation of Education Rebuilding at the Prime Minister's Office.

In today's meeting, after the first draft for proposal was received, discussion took place on the system of the board of education.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for the first proposal from the Council I have just received, and would like to give a word.
In order to achieve education rebuilding, which is the top prioritized issue of Japan, we need to first realize education to let children feel the joy and pride of being born in Japan.
Next, for realizing this kind of education, it is necessary to reform the system including that of the board of education, in order to clarify who is responsible in school education.
Further, it is required to carry forward all-round reform in the entire area of education in Japan, including universities, so that the Japanese people can serve an active role and contribute in the globalizing world.
To ensure an opportunity to acquire the world's top-level academic skills and the awareness of the importance of discipline is the general goal of education and the responsibility of the national government.
The proposal on measures I received today is the first step towards such education rebuilding implementation.
I will instruct Hakubun Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, to make speedy efforts in addressing issues such as (1) fundamental improvement of moral education and consideration of making it an independent subject, (2) establishment of a system to face the problems of bullying, and (3) thorough prohibition of corporal punishment.
As for putting countermeasures against bullying into law, I would like to ask for efforts by Mr. Toshiaki Endo and Mr. Shigeyuki Tomita towards the passage of bills in this session of the Diet, by also considering the content of this proposal.
In today's meeting, it is also scheduled to discuss the system of the board of education, which is the next issue.
I received the report by the Education Rebuilding Council at the time of the First Abe Cabinet, pointing out the necessity of reviewing the position of the board of education fundamentally. Unfortunately, it cannot be said that the proposal has been realized sufficiently, and there are strong criticisms on the board of education regarding its reactions against the problems of bullying and corporal punishment.
I would like to ask the members of the Council to reconsider the raison d'être of the board of education by going back to the starting point, and to compile bold proposals.
I promise to commit myself in realizing the proposals. I would like to ask for your continuous cooperation."