As part of working style reform for teachers, an advisory body for the education minister presented a proposal to verify classroom hours at all public elementary and junior high schools. The study is part of a package of emergency measures given to Education Minister Keiko Nagaoka by the Central Council for Education to decrease teachers' lengthy working hours. Lessening teachers' workloads and altering their working styles is an "issue that must be worked on immediately," according to the council's suggestions. "It is not too much to say that the environment surrounding teachers is in a critical situation," the council added, as children's problems become more diversified and complicated. According to the conclusions of the study, schools where yearly instruction times greatly exceed the standard set by school curriculum standards should eliminate the excess from the following fiscal year.
The curricular rules provide a requirement of 1,015 yearly lesson sessions per pupil. Schools with 1,086 or more yearly class sessions will be required to lower the number. At elementary schools, one period lasts 45 minutes while at junior high schools, one period lasts 50 minutes. The council urged the central government to convey a strong message encouraging prefectural and local governments, as well as schools, to cut teachers' responsibilities. Schools, in particular, should avoid opening gates so early in the morning to discourage pupils from coming so early, according to the council. The council also emphasized the importance of improving teacher allocation, including expanding the subject-based teaching system for fifth and sixth graders in primary schools. It advocated for additional support personnel for teachers, administrators, and vice principals, as well as more school counselors, to deal with an increasing number of students who refuse to attend school. The council approved the emergency ideas before issuing full-fledged policy recommendations in the spring of next year. which are set to also include pay increases for teachers.
