An education ministry panel came out Monday against the establishment of two graduate schools, one aiming to provide courses over the Internet and the other for training animation experts.

But the Council for University Chartering and School Juridical Person, in a recommendation to the education ministry, proposed the establishment of 10 universities and seven graduate schools, including one for nurturing movie producers, as well as the opening of 26 departments at 24 existing universities for the 2006 academic year.

The panel said the Nagano-based Asahi Internet University is not equipped with the facilities required to run a school.

The Internet grad school was planning to use the 60-sq.-meter second floor of a two-story house owned by Masa Sakai, head of the university's preparatory committee, for the president's office and a conference room.

Sakai said faculties are located overseas and in various parts of Japan and there is no need for a large conference room as meetings are conducted over the Internet.

With regard to the Tokyo-based animation graduate school called WAO, the council decided it doesn't have enough people who would dedicate themselves to education and research in animation.

The panel cited the fact that out of a total faculty of 17, all but one teacher would receive monthly salaries of less than 100,000 yen and have other employment outside the school.

The recommendation was made to education minister Kenji Kosaka.