Villegas-Reimers (1997) comments that
considering the “pervasiveness of social problems faced by societies, a stronger commitment
by societies to educate participatory and ethical citizens seems necessary” (p. 231). The
Education Reform Plan for the 21st Century – The Rainbow Plan, established by MEXT in
2001, is a seven-point priority strategy to revitalize schools, families, and communities, and
specifically calls for the improvement of moral education (MEXT: RAINBOW).
Additionally, a new course of study was implemented in 2002 in order to foster “zest for
living” (ikiru chikara) in children and encourage “education of the heart” (MEXT:
MAJPOL). To spur children’s motivation for attending school, the school week was reduced
from six to five days. With a “back to the basics” philosophy, the new course of study aims
to promote the “rudimentary basics of education, such as reading, writing and arithmetic, and
to learn, think and act for oneself as well as develop problem-solving skills” (ibid).