Background of the postponement of the introduction of the English private exam and the future will be 18:42 on November 19th

Postponement of the introduction of the English private examination to the university entrance common examination that spread the ripples. How was the introduction decided in the first place? And in the future. I talked to the ruling and opposition party members. (Political Department reporter Hiroto Furugaki, Koichi Namiki, Shie Kanazawa)

Very sorry

“If you postpone it now, it will be rather confusing.”

Before the postponement decision, in the Liberal Democratic Party, there was a cautious opinion about the postponement, centering on the so-called “Buddhist”. One of them, former Hirofumi Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (65), leaked “very disappointing” to the postponement news.

Mr. Shimomura served as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for nearly three years from December 2012 to October 2015, and has led the introduction of English private exams. 2 weeks since then. I asked how they perceive the postponement decision.

“Everyone, including children in economically difficult families, is not yet in an accessible environment, and there is a handicap due to geographical factors, so the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has to postpone it from a fair and impartial perspective. It is unavoidable to judge that.

Mr. Shimomura showed understanding in the postponement decision. On the other hand, he stressed the significance of introducing private tests.

“I have been studying for 6 years in junior high school and high school, but I can't speak English. In the debate that school education is a problem, I want to master the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. When I became a student, it was necessary to study abroad.
“It is one idea to do in the country, but it will be to collect human resources and create problems using a huge amount of budget and taxes. Private examinations are also entered by companies that are doing the same examination in the world It is a standard that can be applied to any country, so it is better to use it. "The test that the private sector does not do is not true."

Postponement is inevitable

On the other hand, the opposition party. Mr. Hiroshi Kawauchi, a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party (58), has been postponed as a leader of the opposition party of the House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee, who has warned the introduction of a private examination before Minister Ikuta spoke of "health". I heard.

“High school students have appealed directly to opposition lawmakers, saying,“ This system is strange and inequality. ”Even now, there are regional and economic disparities in entrance examinations, and 100% guarantee of fairness and fairness. That said, it was clear that the introduction of a private exam would further widen the gap.

Mr. Kawauchi said that the worst situation was avoided for the time being. Insist that the introduction of private testing should be stopped in the future.

“The practice test is practiced by the private sector, but the private entrance exam is a real test for life. Adults must make decisions based on the weight of each child ’s life. But wherever you go, it ’s business. ”

The history of the introduction

In the first place, how did you decide to introduce English private exams?

First, in order to develop global human resources, the LDP's “Education Rehabilitation Headquarters” will make it a condition for university entrance examinations to impose a certain score in English exams such as “TOEFL” in April 2013. Proposed to Prime Minister Abe.

The government's “Education Rehabilitation Conference” started discussions on university entrance examination reform in June, two months later. The proposal issued in October introduced a new test to replace the center test and an external test. “Consideration of utilization” was included.

December 2014 “Utilization” also “Resolves Disparity”

On the other hand, the Central Education Council, an advisory body of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, was consulted by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at that time in 2012 under the Democratic Party's administration, and was studying the way to enter the university.

At the “High School Connection Special Subcommittee” of the “Central Education Council,” 21 discussions were held across the change of government from the Democratic Party administration to the LDP administration. Submit a report to The report included words such as “Evaluation of English skills including“ writing ”and“ speaking ”in a well-balanced manner, not only“ reading ”and“ listening ”by“ utilizing ”private qualifications and examinations”. .

However, when it comes to private-sector use, the comment was added that “specific examination is necessary regarding“ resolving economic disparities ”such as examination fees and“ resolving regional disparities ”such as examination opportunities”.

August 2016 “Active use”

In response to the report of the Central Education Council, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology established the “University Connection System Reform Conference” in March 2015 and held 14 meetings in a form in which the minutes were published. .

In March 2016, one year later, a final report was compiled stating that it is necessary to consider how to make positive use of knowledge from private qualifications and examinations.

In response to this, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology established an “Examination / Preparation Group” by experts in the following April in order to examine specific system design. The discussion from the first meeting to the 9th meeting was held privately, and in August, the status of the study “we need to actively use” was announced from the viewpoint of the university entrance examination schedule and system. .

July 2017 “Introduction”

The minutes from the 10th to the 14th meeting were held, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced in July 2017, In English, it is announced that it will be “introduced” by utilizing private examinations.

After that, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology established a liaison council with experts and private businesses, etc. to discuss examination guidelines, etc., and established in December last year to hear opinions from high school and university officials. The “College Entrance Examination 4 Skills Evaluation Working Group” was in principle privately discussed.

On the other hand, following this postponement, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), in order to verify the circumstances, the discussions held in the “Examination / Preparation Group” and the minutes of the “Collaborative Entrance Examination English 4 Skills” Adjustments are made in the direction of publicizing the remarks of attendees at the Evaluation Working Group.

Behind the decision to postpone

“Since taking office as a minister, I have carefully considered the high school students taking the exam, carefully analyzed the progress, and listened to the opinions of many people and carefully considered them.”

When he announced the postponement of the introduction of private tests, Minister Ikuta stated that he has been continually introducing tests since his appointment in September. During this time, the question received from the opposition party in the Diet was also criticized for his “stiffness” remarks, which overlapped with what he had asked the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to explain.

The explanation from the bureaucrats was said to have been something like "I can't turn back now". And on October 31st, the application for the common ID required for the exam was approaching the next day. Prime Minister Ikuta, who called Prime Minister Abe, attached a discretion to respond to the request from Prime Minister Abe.

“At present, as a Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, we have determined that the system is not a system that can be confidently recommended for students, regardless of the economic situation or area of ​​residence. No choice but was"

On November 1, Minister Ikuta announced the postponement decided by his judgment. There was a word from Prime Minister Abe when he was appointed as Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

“As a“ cultivate of education ”, rebuild the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology”

One minister cannot decide

On the other hand, in the interview of NHK's Sakai Seki Real Report Team, several bureaucrats testified that "the introduction of the English private exam was a strong instruction by Mr. Shimomura", and some of them said that "reasoning was pushed through". Mr. Shimomura, who is the executive?

(Mr. Shimomura) “Since each person thought, there is no way to deny it, but I would like you to verify the fact a little more. Originally there was a proposal from the party's Education Rehabilitation Headquarters, and I was the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. As a result of discussions at the government's Education Rehabilitation Conference, it was recommended that the private English test be used.The Central Education Council also advised the university entrance examination reform from the time of the Democratic Party administration. During the discussions, there was a story saying, “I should use the private English test.”
“The reason why I decided the“ High School Connection Reform Implementation Plan ”as a program for concrete implementation when I was a minister was discussed in the Liberal Democratic Party, the government, and the middle court. No matter how much, one minister can't decide on his own without any other discussion. "

Responsibility of the Liberal Democratic Party “Bunkyo”

In contrast, Mr. Kawauchi pointed out that the process of making an introduction was unclear. He stressed that successive Ministers of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and LDP parliamentarians are accountable for the process.

(Mr. Kawauchi) “If there was the influence of the members of the Diet, Mr. Shimomura, who is said to be the so-called“ Liberal Democratic Party ”of the Liberal Democratic Party, they must be responsible for that. , Discuss what you have given, and explain how you have come to a conclusion. You can simply claim that the right is right, the wrong is wrong.

Future issues are

Following the postponement of the introduction of the English private exam, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will review the process of the introduction at the review meeting established under the minister and make a fundamental review of the exam structure. , plans to issue a conclusion on the prospect of one year in the future.

To cultivate global human resources, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology says that there is no change in the need to measure the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing in English. The future challenge is how to build a system that allows people to take the exams with confidence, regardless of economic conditions or area of ​​residence, for the implementation of the Ordinance 6 after five years.

In response to this postponement, the Liberal Democratic Party's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology also submitted a resolution to Minister Ikuta to create a system that could be implemented responsibly by the country, taking into account regional and economic disparities. How will the LDP respond in the future? Mr. Shimomura?

“50% of universities already use private English exams for entrance exams, and 70% of them were raising their hands next year. To prevent students from being confused, the universities they are trying to use We need to back up an environment that can be used as much as possible. ''
“It is necessary to discuss whether to support such universities through private-study grants or administrative expenses grants, or to reduce the burden on high school students who are trying to challenge. The Liberal Democratic Party should also make a solid table. "

Mr. Kawauchi on the other hand. What is necessary for the development of global human resources is not to change the method of entrance examinations, but to emphasize that the contents of education in high schools and universities should be reviewed radically.

“I agree and understand the idea of ​​making an entrance examination that is not a mechanism for competing for one point, but for that purpose I have to change the curriculum of high school and university. The industry that just takes the entrance exams will survive, and it will be impossible to forcibly set a goal and head to it.

What to write problem

In addition, the issue of descriptive formulas introduced in the national language and mathematics of the university entrance common test is also discussed. Since part-time job college students are expected to score, there are concerns that fair scoring is difficult, and it is difficult for students to self-score after the exam. Mr. Kawauchi?

(Mr. Kawauchi) “Even though there are about 500,000 students, it is impossible to level and score without mistakes. Candidates cannot self-score and affect the application at the desired school. It must be done, but it is linguistic to leave a part-time job with scoring, and the problem of description should be discontinued. ''

On November 14, four opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party, submitted a bill to the Diet to cancel the introduction. In response, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology intends to maintain and improve the quality of scoring based on the verification results of mock tests for investigating whether scoring work can be done properly.

The implementation of the university entrance examination is approaching next year. There is an urgent need to eliminate the anxiety of examinees as soon as possible, such as by clarifying scoring standards and ensuring a fair and equitable structure. It is also asked how the entrance examination should be.