The Education Reform
The current Constitution and the Education Act are the two essential driving forces for the reform of education. Based on the 1999 Education Act, several areas of education reform have been undertaken. The key areas of the reform and the significant move towards the reform are as follows.
1. The unity in educational policy and decentralization of the educational management. From 20th August onwards, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of University Affairs and the Office of National Education Commission will be merged to be one Ministry under the name of "the Ministry of Education, Religion and Culture". Currently, the administrative lines from the Central office sometimes have to go to the regional office to the provincial and district offices before reaching the school. According the Education Act, from 20th August 2002 onwards, there will be only the Central Office, the Local Area Education Office (will be established) and the school. This will cut down the red-tape along the line. The reform will result in downsizing of the central office staff, whereas the regional and provincial offices will be abolished.
2. The second area of reform relates to the reform of learning, which is considered to be most important if actual reform is to be taken place. The reform of learning involves the teaching and learning approaches, the construction of the new 12-year basic curriculum, the teachers' training, and the support system for lifelong learning. The learners'centered approach of teaching is the central emphasis for all kinds of learning activities.
3. Quality and standard assurance. Since the authority is allocated to the Education Region Office and to the school, there will be both internal and external evaluation of the standard of the school periodically.
4. Placing emphasis on the teaching profession. There will be a revision and extension of the curriculum for teacher training to be 5 years in university and an addition year apprenticeship in an educational institute. The progress of the teachers will be based on the evaluation of their performance.
5. The use of technology in education. Multimedia and information technology will be used to support learning in regular schools, nonformal education and informal learning. A center for national educational technology will be established to develop appropriate learning materials and media for the learners both in-school and out-of-school learning.