Japan Teachers’ Union held the 102nd Temporary Congress on March 18.

At the opening, Ryosuke Kato, President, pointed out narrow-minded nationalism and exclusiveness and called out to the participants, ‘Each one of us is required to face theses of what was the last war, what was the ‘post war’ and how education committed in such time and place. Over the theses, we are all asked to give answers to how we live and how we will in the future’. He also referred to those who repeatedly use hate speech as ‘educated in Japan. Therefore, I believe that we have responsibilities to feedback our practices. The education which respects all the children as individuals, it is one of the most important to seek for. JTU will deepen social dialogues based on such education and confront wrong reconstruction of education which reflects national and political wills’.

Mr Kato also mentioned that 3 years have passed since the East Japan Big Earthquake and appealed ‘We have responsibility to succeed rich environment to our future generations. Let us appeal to the government against re-operation of nuclear plants, and life and industry which depend on the plants. Let us appeal that we build up technology on coping with radioactive wastes, gain new resources of energy, and discuss how domestic economy or employment should be where nuclear plants locate. Those issues should be treated as a whole nation’s and immediately examined.’

During the discussion, the participants expressed their views on the recent educational issues such as harmful influences of standardized tests and classes on Saturdays. Also, they enunciated ‘ we will promote social dialogue for quality education.’

The election for Central Executive Committee for 2014-2016 was conducted and Mr Kato was re-elected as President.

At the end of the congress, ‘Special Resolution on Objections against Pushing for Mal-amendment of Constitution of Japan including the Approval of Exercise of Collective Self-defense Rights’, ‘Special Resolution on Promotion of Educational Conditions and Realization of Educational Measures with Respecting Constitution of Japan and Convention on the Rights of the Child’ and ‘Special Resolution on Re-building Bounds at Workplaces and Organizing.’ were adopted.