At first glance, the interim report from the National Commission on Educational Reform, an advisory panel of the prime minister, appears cautious about revising the 1947 Fundamental Law on Education. In marked contrast to an earlier subcommittee report that explicitly supported a revision, the panel's latest report, released last week, calls for a "broad public debate." But there is no doubt that it is aiming at an eventual revision.

While acknowledging that "there is as yet no consensus on what specific changes should be made," the report says: "In light of the fact that the law was enacted under different circumstances, some of the requirements have changed both in concept and practice. The majority opinion is that it should be revised according to need."

The odd thing is that the commission is pushing for a revision without saying clearly what it is all about. Essentially, the report reflects Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's intentions. In his policy speech to the Diet, he called for a "deepening of the national debate" on the revision issue and said specific questions will be discussed at the Central Council for Education, which reports to the education minister.