[Info. File] Proposals for the Development of Human Resources in Social Education

Central Council for Education proposes revitalization of the workplace by "social educators"

In June 2024, the Central Council for Education's Lifelong Learning Subcommittee's Social Education Human Resources Subcommittee published its "Final Report on the Development and Promotion of Social Education Human Resources." Recognizing that

social education plays an important role in building the foundations of sustainable local communities and that it is necessary to cultivate the foundation for building relationships that foster cooperation among people through "learning" (Fourth Basic Plan for the Promotion of Education), the report emphasizes the importance of fostering local connections and nurturing the next generation through collaboration between school education and social education, as well as linking social education with local community-related policies in areas such as welfare, disaster prevention, and rural development.

As the scope of social education providers expands to include social education facilities, social education-related organizations and NPOs, local government offices, and private companies, the report emphasizes the significant role played by personnel capable of organizing social education activities, and emphasizes the importance of qualitative and quantitative improvements. Overall, the report envisions the development of people, connections, and communities through social education human resources as a hub.

Specifically, the report focuses on the roles of social education officers and social educators as social education personnel.

Source: Compiled by the author

Social education directors are appointed by the Board of Education as specialists. They are expected to play a central role in promoting social education throughout the region by linking social education with school education and other areas of responsibility under the mayor's office, such as the environment, welfare, disaster prevention, rural development, and urban development. They are expected to lead the overall social education administration and practice efforts and play a

central role in promoting social education throughout the region. Meanwhile, social educators are specialists for developing rich communities who have completed social education director training and development courses. They are expected to utilize their expertise in various fields and knowledge of social education in on-site activities to revitalize and deepen the significance of activities.

For social education to fulfill its role in supporting local communities, social education professionals must acquire the coordination skills to effectively promote learning and practice in the community, as well as the knowledge and skills to link learning outcomes to solving local issues through collaboration and cooperation with related government agencies and various other entities. To achieve this, we recommend expanding the capacity of social education director training courses, promoting inter-agency collaboration to improve quality, and expanding the range of opportunities for them to work.

(Published with additions and revisions in the August 2024 issue of "EN-ICHI FORUM")

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