On ‘Japanese Style’ Teacher Education Reform: Considering Issues of Quality Development under an ‘Open System’

A complication of teacher education policy in Japan is rooted in a gap between an image of teachers, which is held by society as a whole, and includes various character traits and the reality of Japanese university education. On the other hand, the expansion of an “open system” and lack of nationwide standard are making individual universities that provide teacher education programs in Japan to “narrow down.” The enforcement of the current approval system is deficient as a quality assurance measure, and therefore has many harmful effects. Accordingly, it is desirable to recognize the realities of teacher education and respect the independence of individual universities when considering teacher education reform in the future.