To provide future teachers with the ability to effectively deal with truancy problems and bullying in schools, the Educational Personnel Training Council advised the Education Ministry on July 28 to change the national teacher training curriculum to emphasize practical training and educational philosophy and psychology.

Responding to recent criticism of junior high school teachers, the council's report to the minister specifically called for doubling practical teaching time -- the period in which teachers-in-training conduct classes -- from two weeks to four. The report also suggests they take more courses on academic counseling. The council also urged that efforts be made to cultivate the individual character of each teacher-to-be by increasing the credit requirement for elective courses and by introducing unique class types, such as those promoting volunteerism.

To obtain a junior high school teaching certificate, a person must take 59 credits worth of course work in a variety of subjects, according to the current Teaching Certificate Law. However, only 19 of those are required to be earned from classes specific to teaching. The council recommends that the number of such credits be increased to 31. The council hopes the revision, if implemented, will cultivate a more individualist corps of junior high school teachers and deepen their motivation for the profession.