Advisory committee to Minister of Education suggested in May 14 to raise so-called adjustment allowance to public school teachers. This is de-fact policy blueprint which shows how the Ministry of Education will respond to too much teachers’ workload and too long teachers’ working hours.

According to the latest JTU survey, lower secondary school teachers work in average 11 hours 3 minutes daily. JTU has implemented “Schools in Crisis! Sustainable school system for quality education and educators’ well-being” to solve this serious situation. The suggestion by the advisory committee is far from effective solutions though it mentions to increase it; currently set at 4% of monthly salary to 10%.

Teachers need more time to fully prepare for teaching and smaller class size (maximum of 35 students for 1st and 2nd grade classrooms and 40 students for others). The content of National Curriculum Guideline should be reduced. What is most necessary is urgent and effective initiative from Ministry of Education.

The Japan Teachers’ Union received more than 700,000 petitions from educators and citizens calling for immediate measures to save schools. We have large supports through social dialogues of press conferences and street campaigns nationally.

It is not enough to improve some aspects of salary scheme adjustment allowance, but also to drastically amend the relevant laws including reducing workload, increasing the number of teachers for quality education for all and well-being of educators.