Looking to draw on a diversity of human resources as it faces a shortage of teachers, the education ministry will expand eligibility for its "special certificate," which allows individuals with certain expertise in specialized fields but lacking standard certification to teach in schools.
The program will allow for specialists to teach courses in physical education, art, science and other specialized subjects.
The special certificate was established in 1988, setting certain criteria for each field. Examples are having worked for three years or more at a company, which uses English for business, or having 600 hours or more of classroom experience as an assistant language teacher (ALT) of a foreign language.
In the system, schools put forth those whom they want to hire, and the prefectural board of education grants the certificate according to teaching field. However, in 2018 academic year, the number of certificates granted for teaching in elementary, junior high or high schools totaled just 208 nationwide.
As such, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry will establish a framework for the certifying of individuals who have distinguished themselves with exceptional achievements in such fields as sports and the arts.
The ministry envisages conferring the certificate on athletes who have competed on the global level such as the Olympics to teach physical education, or musicians who have taken part in prestigious international competitions to teach music classes.
In addition, the ministry will grant special certificates to those who have earned a doctorate degree to teach in their field of expertise. In such cases, previous experience working in a company or teaching in a school will not be required.
The ministry plans to amend the guidelines for the special certificate, possibly as early as May, and notify the prefectural boards of education.
The shortage of teachers on the job has become conspicuous. As the ratio of applicants-to-job openings for public elementary school teachers stood at a record low of 2.7 in 2020 academic year, securing qualified teachers has become a matter of urgency.
Some experts have also pointed out that the operation of schools has become too rigid, as teachers are chiefly hired all at once from among the latest class of graduates.
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