A former junior high school principal who served as a textbook selection committee member in the city of Fujiidera in Osaka has filed documents on suspicion of aggravated bribery, alleging that he received cash from an employee of the textbook company Dainippon Tosho in return for favoring the selection of textbooks. Interviews with investigative officials revealed that he had been sent to prosecutors.
The document was sent to a 61-year-old former principal of a junior high school in Fujiidera City, Osaka.
According to investigative sources, the former principal received tens of thousands of yen in cash from employees of the textbook company "Dainippon Tosho" in return for helping the school select textbooks, as well as entertainment such as food and drink. He is accused of aggravated bribery.
Two employees of "Dainippon Tosho" were also sent to the public prosecutor's office on suspicion of bribery.
According to Fujiidera City, the former principal was a textbook selection committee member at the city board of education at the time, and was involved in the selection of textbooks to be used for four years from last year.
As a result of the selection, this company's "mathematics" and "health and physical education" textbooks were adopted for junior high schools in Fujiidera City.
Regarding the selection of textbooks, the "Textbook Association", a general incorporated association made up of textbook companies, has a voluntary rule that prohibits entertainment for related parties, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has also asked the boards of education of each prefecture to instruct textbook companies. I am issuing a notice requesting that I maintain an appropriate relationship with
Mechanism of textbook selection
Public school textbooks are selected once every four years for each municipality.
According to the Fujiidera City Board of Education, the "selection committee" for junior high school textbooks is made up of nine members, including the city's junior high school principals, vice principals, and the PTA.
The "selection committee" narrows down textbooks from several companies for each subject and recommends them to the board of education.
Based on this recommendation, the board of education officially decides the textbook.
The selection year will begin in April and will be decided by the end of August.