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Improving the Quality of Teaching Teiichi SATO Professor, International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School

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Teacher training provided by universities in principle Teacher training courses that combine subject-based training and practical teaching skills in an approved subject area --> provide newly qualified teachers with the minimum skills necessary to immediately take responsibility for a class or course of study and to put into practice the student guidance and curriculum delivery techniques acquired during training. Teacher recruitment and selection carried out by boards of education of prefectures and designated cities Evaluation from a broader perspective: Greater weight given to performance in interviews and demonstration lessons Non-teaching experience also taken into account Continuing professional development provided by boards of education: For new teachers For teachers with 10 years experience For experienced teachers Continuing professional development at the national level (National Center for Teachers Development): School management training for staff who play a central role in education in each region Training covering pressing issues Effective management of a system for teachers performing unsatisfactorily New teacher evaluation system MEXT Outstanding Teacher Award Improvement of teacher training courses (incl. introduction of a teaching practice element) Establishment of postgraduate teacher training colleges -> Improve teacher training at the postgraduate level and provide high quality and practical training. Implementation of a teaching certificate renewal system -> Enabling teachers to regularly update their skills and knowledge will foster confident teachers who take pride in their work, as well as increase the publics respect and trust in the teaching profession -> Teaching certificate valid for 10 years. Teachers need to complete at least 30 hours of training within the 2 years prior to the expiration of the certificate. (Particulars of the teaching certificate renewal system to be decided during the radical overhaul to improve the quality of teaching Improving the Quality of Teaching With the aim of improving the quality of teaching, various measures centering around everyday classroom teaching and the professional development of teachers are being systematically implemented at each stage: teacher training in universities, recruitment carried out by boards of education of prefectures and designated cities (500,000+ population), and continuing professional development. Recent efforts Training Recruitment CPD Appropriate HR mgt Improving teaching quality at each stage: training, recruitment, and CPD Comprehensive reform of teaching quality 3 June 2010: Policies to improve teaching quality across all aspects of teaching submitted for inquiry to the Central Council for Education Under discussions at the Central Council for Education Special Committee for Imrivement of Teaching Quality Overview of the Report on the Discussions published January 2011 Further consideration being given to realizing a masters level degree in teacher training For the time being, consideration being given to granting a basic certificate (provisional name) basic qualification for those with a bachelors degree and a general certificate (provisional name) masters level qualification for teachers completing the necessary program after being employed as a teacher Consideration being given to establishing a specialized certificate (provisional name) Improve the quality of teaching by improving individual teachers skills -> Provide high quality teaching

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Teachers shall be those persons possessing one of the applicable certificates awarded through the Educational Personnel Certification Act (Article 3, paragraph 1 of the Certification Act). 1. The Principle of Teaching Certification and Principle of an Open System Principle of Teaching Certification Teacher training in Japan is conducted fostering the particular characteristics of regular universities and universities specializing in teacher training. Principle of an Open System Regular certificate (Valid for 10 years) Regular certificate (Valid for 10 years) Specialized certificate (Valid for ten years) Specialized certificate (Valid for ten years) Provisional certificate (Valid for three years) Provisional certificate (Valid for three years) By type of school (by subject for lower and upper secondary schools) Authority awarding certificate Prefectural Board of Education Valid scope of the certificate Regular certificate: All prefectures Specialized certificate: Provisional certificate: Specialized certificate (on completing a masters degree) Class I certificate (on graduating from a university) Class II certificate (on graduating from a junior college) System of Teacher Development and Teaching Certification 2. Types of Teaching Certificates Within the prefecture where the certificate was awarded

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Bachelors degree, etc.Completion of the teacher-training program Teaching certificate Bachelors degree level of a Class I certificate Junior college diploma: Class II certificate Masters degree: Specialized certificate Classes relating to subjects Classes relating to the teaching profession Classes relating to subjects or the teaching profession Significance of the teaching profession Basic theory of education Courses of study and methods of instruction Student guidance, education counseling and careers guidance Teaching practice (Elementary and lower secondary school teaching: 4 weeks, upper secondary school teaching: 2 weeks Teaching practicum Awarded according to the type of school (according to the types of subjects in cases of lower secondary schools and upper secondary schools) The credits are for a Class I certificate (Minimum no. of credits for elementary school teaching: 41, lower secondary school teaching: 31, upper secondary school training: 23) (Minimum no. of credits for elementary school teaching: 10, lower secondary school teaching: 8, upper secondary school teaching: 16) Minimum no. of credits for elementary school teaching: 8, lower and upper secondary school teaching: 20 Chosen from the abovementioned or The teaching certificate will be awarded through the acquisition of a degree and the credits required of the teaching-training program. The university subjects for the teacher-training program shall be certified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for each type of certificate. (Note: The teacher-training program for kindergartens and elementary schools shall be comprised of subjects whose primary purpose is the training of teachers.) Framework of Teacher Development in Universities

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Composition of teachers by the certificate Category Specialized certificateClass I certificateClass II certificate Kindergartens 0.4%21.0%73.7% Elementary schools 3.2%80.2%14.7% Lower secondary schools 5.4%89.4% 4.8% Upper secondary schools 24.2%74.9%