Kyoiku-Souken

(Japan Teachers' Union INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION AND CULURE)

INTRODUCTION

Kyoiku-Souken was founded in 1991 as a think tank of Japan Teachers' Union (JTU). With the co-operation of outside researchers, Kyoiku-Souken conducts research in wide areas related to education and culture, and on advocacy for the educational improvements. We also make political proposals on various contemporary issues regarding education, while we are conscious of needs and objectives raised by those who work in the field.

JTU (Japan Teachers' Union), which is the parent organization of Kyoiku-Souken, proclaims that "education, along with welfare, should be a central issue of the society" and believes in "education that is in accordance with principles under which peace, human rights, environment, gender and inclusion are highly valued."

Following such JTU's policy on educational advocacy, Kyoiku-Souken conducts research from the short-to-long term points of view to further theorize JTU's core values and to produce guidelines and knowledge that are practical and useful for actual educational practices.

ORGANIZATION

1. Board of Directors

The board of directors is made up of eleven members, including a chairperson, and is held once a year. Based on the Article 5-2 of the regulation, directors discuss the organizational and research planning.

2. Advisors

Successive heads (chief) of the board of directors become an advisor. At present, the number of advisor is four.

3. Steering Conference

The overall activities of Kyoiku-Souken, including the concrete aspects of its operation, are discussed at the weekly meetings of the steering conference. Currently eight members consist of the conference and decide details over research planning, activities and publication.

4. Research Conference

The research conference is organized according to the regulation of Kyoiku-Souken, and currently consists of nine members. They make proposals to the steering conference as to research planning such as prioritizing issues.

5. Secretariat

The secretariat consists of four members. The officers work to support daily activities of Kyoiku-Souken.

ACTIVITIES

1. Research

Kyoiku-souken seeks outside experts to establish a research committee on various topics that are of high research priority. The duration of committee's work varies from 6 months to 2 years. More than fifty research committees have been formed so far, which conducted variety of studies and produced research reports.

2. Publication

『Education and Culture』(quarterly), 『Kyouiku-souken Annual Report』(annually), and other books and booklets are edited and published

3. Lectures and Gatherings

Kyoiku-soken host various education-related lectures and gatherings. A few exampels include:

• Annual gatherings of the local educational research institutes: Education researchers from the local braches of JTU research institutes in each prefecture get together annually. They exchange information on activities, programs or operations of each institute.


• Open forum on education and culture: The purpose of this forum is to raise people's awareness regarding the current educational issues and to raise them as national issues. Forums are held several times a year (irregular) at various locations throughout the country.


• Lecture on human rights: Since protection of human rights is one of the core principles of the Kyoiku-soken, we believe that all of our activities should be based on human rights perspectives. Lectures on human rights are irregularly held and open to the public.

4. Consultation Room for parents, children and teachers

The consultation room was opened in 1980 and is currently operated together by Japan Teachers' Union and Kyoiku-Souken. In addition to the regular consultation activities, a nation-wide consultation research conference is also held annually.