Japan: Urgent workload relief, staffing, and legal reforms needed to address teacher shortages and burnout
In his address to the national parliament, Japan Teachers’ Union (JTU) President Takashi Kajiwara highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the education system to tackle the growing teacher shortage and ensure the well-being of educators.
Speaking at the House of Representatives Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Kajiwara presented the JTU’s perspectives on proposed amendments to the law on “Teaching Adjustment Allowance.”
Workload relief and staffing issues
Kajiwara emphasized the excessive workload imposed on teachers due to increasing school duties and student issues. He pointed out the lack of governmental support, including the absence of a clear plan to hire more educators. "Despite a 2019 law capping overtime, teacher working hours have barely decreased," Kajiwara noted, highlighting the ineffective policy impact on long teacher working hours. The mental health crisis among teachers, with rising cases of burnout and stress-related sick leaves, further exacerbates the situation.
Three pillars of change
The JTU leader outlined three key demands for schools and teachers: workload relief, staffing, and legal reform. He called for financial support from the government, refinement of curriculum to improve curriculum overload, and support for transitioning school club activities to community-run programs. Additionally, Kajiwara stressed the need to reduce class sizes, set limits on teaching hours to allow time for lesson preparation, and hire more education support personnel to handle administrative and operational tasks.
Legal reforms and government support
Kajiwara argued that the current legal revisions are temporary measures and insufficient to resolve long working hours or improve teacher conditions. He emphasized that work reforms in schools depend on financial support from the national government and clarified that transitioning to labor standards law will not immediately fix long working hours. "We must collaborate to reduce workloads and increase staffing," Kajiwara urged, proposing support systems for new teachers to address mental health issues and improve the work environment.
Go Public! Fund Education campaign
In liaison with Education International (EI) Go Public! Fund Education campaign, the JTU launched the campaign "Schools in Crisis! Sustainable School System for Quality Education and Educators' Well-Being" in 2024 to advocate for comprehensive reforms, including increased funding and systemic changes in public education. The Japanese union also unveiled a survey calling for urgent action, providing evidence that the country's educators are grappling with long working hours, additional extracurricular activities, and no significant improvement in working conditions.
As Japan faces a critical juncture in its education system, the JTU's demands for workload relief, staffing, and legal reforms are essential to ensure the well-being of teachers and the quality of education. President Kajiwara's call to action underscores the need for immediate and sustained efforts to support educators and create a sustainable school system.
