Japan should continue to actively discuss the introduction of English language education at the elementary school level, including putting English on the mandatory curriculum, a private advisory panel to the education, culture, sports, science and technology minister said in its final report submitted Friday.
The 22-member advisory panel, led by Mineo Nakajima, president of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, was set up last January to review the country's English language education system and English teaching methods at schools with a view to equipping the nation's youngsters with a better command of a language expected to become even more essential in the 21st century.
At present, most Japanese students, except those attending some private elementary schools, do not start studying English as part of compulsory education until junior high school.