Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 21st meeting of the Education Rebuilding Implementation Council at the Prime Minister's Office.
During the meeting, discussion took place on the future of the education system.
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“Today, I would like you to discuss specific issues related to setting the necessary conditions for the reform of the education system. Thus far you have shared many valuable opinions and reviewed each issue with regard to the future of the education system.
Specifically, we have received enthusiastic opinions about the ideal durations for compulsory education and tuition-free education, improving early childhood education, the connecting of and integration of different stages of education, improving vocational education, and making changes to teacher licensing and development, among other matters.
In addition to policy changes, some of these reforms will also require fiscal measures for securing human resources and improving educational environments, for example. Today, I would like you to examine the setting of necessary conditions for education system reform, while also taking into consideration these points.

As the issue of the declining birthrate and aging population progresses, and globalization advances, I believe the direction we should aim for with the education system is to improve the quality of education, to create a framework that allows each and every person to draw out their full potential, and to ensure that anyone with the motivation and capacity to learn can receive the necessary education at any time. I believe that holding discussions from such perspectives on issues related to the setting of conditions, including fiscal measures, is extremely important.
Today I would like to once again ask you to continue to offer us your frank and active insights. Thank you.”