The public education system has long been criticized for its uniformity as well as, according to academics and business leaders, its inability to improve the overall English-language skills of the Japanese people.
In an effort to kill two birds with one stone, several local municipalities have announced they want to use special deregulation zones due to be set up by the government to launch schools that prioritize learning English.
Within certain zones, existing regulations governing items such as curricula, textbooks and teacher recruitment will be eased to effect more flexible and diverse educational programs. The process of submitting applications for specific ideas began Tuesday.