License renewal system eyed for teachers
The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 18, 2005---A government committee said in its interim report Wednesday that there should be further discussion on whether a renewal system for teachers' licenses should be applied to current teachers.
The committee previously said the system should not be applied to current teachers because some could lose existing benefits.
The committee of the Central Council for Education, an advisory panel to the education, science and technology minister, also proposed that a compulsory seminar on practical teaching methods be included in the universities' teacher-training courses. ...
...In October 2004, then Education, Science and Technology Minister Nariaki Nakayama consulted the council about introducing a system that would require teachers to periodically renew their licenses.
The council initially indicated that it would exclude current teachers from the license renewal requirement. However, there have recently been demands for a more rigorous examination of teacher quality.....
... the new teaching license will be valid for 10 years, but it remains to be decided whether the first renewal should be made after five or 10 years....more...
