CHAPTER I General Provisions

(Purpose) Article 1. This Law shall have as its object the promotion of the vocational education, in cognizance of the fact that such education is the basis of the industrial and economic development of the national and of a higher national life:with the ultimate end in view to produce such able citizens as will contribute toward economic independence of the nation, by establishing a true faith in labor, training industrial skill, and fostering creative abilities. through such education, in compliance with the spirit of the Fundamental Law of Education (Law No.25 of 1947).

(Definition) Article 2. "Vocational education" in this Law shall be construed to mean the education which is given by the lower secondary schools (including lower secondary sections of the schools for the blind, the deaf, and the otherwise handicapped;hereinafter the same), the upper secondary schools (including upper secondary sections of the schools for the blind, the deaf, and the otherwise handicapped;hereinafter the same), or the universities, to pupils or students, for the purpose of educating them in knowledge, skill, and general attitude required for engaging in agriculture, manufacture, commerce, fishery, etc.(inclusive of the household courses).

(Duties of the State) Article 3. In accordance with the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws and orders, the State shall encourage the local entities to promote the vocational education through methods mentioned in the following items: (1) Set up a general program concerning the promotion of vocational education; (2) Give assistances necessary for the improvement in the subjects and methods of vocational education; (3) Provide facilities and equipments for vocational education, and integrate them; (4) Establish a program for the in-service or pre-service training of teachers or leaders of vocational education, and implement it; (5) Promote cooperation with business circles concerning the implementation of vocational education.

CHAPTER II Vocational Education Council

Section 1 Central Vocational Education Council

(Establishment) Article 4. There shall be established a Central Vocational Education Council (hereinafter referred to as "the Central Council" ) in the Ministry of Education.

(Organization) Article 5. The Central Council shall be composed of 20 members. 2 The members of the council shall be appointed by the Minister of Education from among those mentioned below: (1) Those who have learning and experience in the fields of industry and economy...... 4 (2) Those who have learning and experience in the field of education........................... 8 (3) Those who have learning and experience in the field of labor................................. 4 (4) Personnel of the administrative agencies concerned................................................... 4 3 The tenure of office of the member of the council to be appointed from among those persons mentioned in items (1) to (3) inclusive of the preceding paragraph shall be two years;provided that the tenure of office of any member filling a vacancy shall be the remainder of the tenure of office of the predecessor. 4 The member of the council may be re-appointed.

(Competence) Article 6. The Central Council, upon inquiry by the Minister of Education, shall make research and deliberation on the matters mentioned in the respective items of Article 3 and other important matters relating to vocational education and make proposals thereon to the Minister of Education.

(Technical Members) Article 7. There may be installed technical members in the Central Council, for making research and deliberation on technical matters. 2 The technical members shall be appointed by the Minister of Education, on recommendation of the Central Council, from among those who have learning and experience in vocational education, and the personnel of the administrative agencies concerned.

(Compensation for Needed Expenses Payable to Technical and Other Members, etc.) Article 8. The members of the Council and technical members thereof shall be in part-time service. 2 The technical and other members of the council shall be entitled to compensation for the expenses needed for performing their duties. 3 The amount of compensation for the expenses and the method of payment shall be determined by the Minister of Education in consultation with the Minister of Finance.

(Delegations to the Cabinet Order) Article 9. Necessary matters concerning the Central Council, prescribed by this Law, shall be provided for by other than those Cabinet Order.

Section 2 Local Vocational Education Council

(Establishment) Article 10. There shall be established a Local Vocational Education Council (hereinafter referred to as "the Local Council" ), in each of To, Do, Fu or prefecture which wishes to be given financial aid by the State under the provisions of this Law. 2 City, town or village (including associations thereof and special wards;hereinafter the same) may establish a Local Council.

(Organization) Article 11. The Local Council shall be composed of members not less than 10 but not more than 20, in number, in To, Do, Fu or prefecture, and not less than 5 but not more than 15, in city, town or village, as may be determined by by-laws. 2 As regard;the drafting and presenting of the Local Regulations mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the instance of Article 61 of the Board of Education Law (Law No.170 of 1948) shall be followed. 3 The members of the Local Council mentioned in paragraph 1 shall be appointed by the board of education of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, or city, town or villages, following the instance of Article 5 paragraph 2. 4 In appointing the members mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the boards of education of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, and city, town or village shall hear in advance respectively the opinion of the governor and the mayor of city, town or village concerned.

(Competence) Article 12. The Local Council shall, upon inquiry by the prefectural board of education or the governor or by the board of education of the city, town or village concerned, make research and deliberation on the matters mentioned in the respective items of Article 3 and other important matters relating to vocational education, and make proposals thereon to the board of education or the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, or board of education of the city, town or village, in so far as the vocational education conducted in each area of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, or city, town or village is concerned.

(Compensation for the Needed Expenses Payable to Members, etc.) Article 13. The members of the Local Council shall be in part-time service. 2 The members of the Local Council shall be entitled to compensation for the expenses needed for the performance of their duties. 3 The expenses mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be borne by To, Do, Fu or prefecture, or city, town or village concerned. 4 The amount of compensation for the expenses as well as the method of payment shall be determined by by-laws.

(Delegation to the Board of Education Regulations) Article 14. Necessary matters concerning the Local Council, other than those prescribed by this Law, shall be provided for by the Regulations of the Board of Education of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, or city, town or village concerned. 2 In introducing the regulations as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the board of education of To, Do, Fu or prefecture shall make prior consultation with the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, and the board of education of city, town or village, with the mayor of city, town or village concerned.

CHAPTER III Financial Aid

Section 1 Public Schools

(Subsidies) Article 15. In case the establisher of a public school intends to improve any of the facilities or equipments mentioned in the following items which do not come up to the standards, as prescribed by Cabinet Order in consultation with the Central Council in order to conform with such standards, the State shall subsidize the establisher for the required expenses within the limits of the budgetary appropriations: (1) Facilities or equipments for experiment and practical training in the upper secondary schools for vocational courses; (2) Facilities or equipments for experiment and practice used in common by lower or upper secondary schools in regard to vocational education; (3) Facilities or equipments used for experiment and practice in vocational education and those for vocational guidance, in lower secondary schools; (4) Facilities or equipments for experiment and practice needed in such universities as conduct the in-service or pre-service training of teachers or instructors who are or will be engaged in vocational education. 2 In addition to the expenses provided for in the preceding paragraph, the State shall subsidize the establisher of a public school for the expenses mentioned in the following items, within the limits of the budgetary appropriations: (1) Expenses needed by those upper secondary schools or short-term universities which conduct vocational education regarded as having a special importance for the development of national or local industry, and which are designated as such by the Minister of Education with respect to the upper secondary schools, on recommendation of the boards of education of To, Do, Fu and prefectures concerned;with respect to the short-term universities, upon the application of the establisher thereof for improving the facilities and equipments required for such education; (2) Expenses for the facilities or equipments for experiment and practice needed in those lower or upper secondary schools which have been designated as the central institutions for local vocational education, and for research thereof, by the Minister of Education through the recommendation of the boards of education of To, Do, Fu and prefectures;and other expenses needed for the said research; (3) Expenses needed for in-service educations of teachers and instructors engaged in vocational education; (4) Other expenses deemed especially necessary for the encouragement of vocational education.

(Vocational Education of Short-term) Article 16. In case lower or upper secondary public schools conduct a short-term education mainly aimed at technical training (including the special-course education and social education conducted in such schools) for the youths who have been or will be engaged in the pursuits after leaving their lower secondary schools, to meet the local conditions, the State shall subsidize, within the limits of the budgetary appropriations, the establishers of such schools for the expenses for the facilities or equipment required for such education and the operation thereof, according to the provisions of Cabinet Order to be prescribed after being referred to the Central Council.

(Repayment of Subsidies, etc.) Article 17. In cases where those who have received subsidies come under any of the following items, the Minister of Education shall not only cease to give subsidies in that fiscal year but cause them to repay the subsidies already given in that fiscal year: (1) Where they have violated the provisions of this Law or of the Cabinet Order issued in accordance therewith; (2) Where they have violated the conditions for the grant of subsidies; (3) Where the fact has become evident that they received subsidies on the basis of a false statement.

(Delegation to Cabinet Order) Article 18. Necessary matters, other than those prescribed in this Section, concerning the grant of subsidies shall be provided for by Cabinet Order.

Section 2 Private Schools

(Financial Aid to Private Schools) Article 19. In reference to the financial aid of the State to private schools, the provisions of Article 18 to the preceding Article inclusive shall be applicable with necessary modifications. In this case, the "boards of education of To, Do, Fu and prefectures" as mentioned in Article 15 paragraph 2 items (1) and (2), shall read "governors of To, Do, Fu and prefectures" . 2 In case the State gives a financial aid to school-corporations, the provisions of Article 59 paragraphs 2 to 6 inclusive of the Private School Law (Law No.270 of 1949) shall be regarded as applicable.