Jun 02 (Japan Times) - A government advisory panel on education reform proposed to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday steps to ease the workload on Japan's teachers and boost community and parent involvement with schools as concern about overwork grows.
The panel recommends introducing a "Teachers' Day" to get communities more involved in tasks handled by teachers as Abe pushes to reform the education system, a task he says is "essential" to building a stronger nation.
In its latest report to the prime minister, the Education Rebuilding Implementation Council, led by Waseda University President Kaoru Kamata, said teachers are overworked and "reaching the limit."
"It is extremely important to create an environment whereby a teacher can ensure (quality) time with the children and properly supervise each and every one," Abe told the panel.
A government survey released in April said more than half of the nation's junior high school teachers have worked more than 20 hours overtime per week - a level that could cause serious health problems.
The finding also highlights the need to reduce excessive working hours in a country battling a chronic overwork problem that has lingered for decades.
