テスト結果公表 学力向上に正面から取り組め

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 22, 2008)

Take direct approach for better schools

テスト結果公表　学力向上に正面から取り組め（12月22日付・読売社説）

An Education, Science and Technology Ministry panel of experts has recently concluded that the policy on disclosing the results of nationwide academic achievement tests should remain as it has been for the previous two years.

　全国学力テストの結果公表については、来年以降も過去２年間と同じ方針で臨むべきだ――。

However, we cannot help but harbor reservations about the panel's opinion.

そう結論づけた文部科学省の専門家会議の見解には疑問をぬぐえない。

This year some of the municipal-level comparative data from the examination was disclosed in Osaka and Akita prefectures, while data on individual schools was disclosed in Nanbucho, Tottori Prefecture. In light of such situations, the ministry asked the panel tasked with analyzing the results of the nationwide academic achievement test to reexamine the way the results are disclosed.

　大阪府と秋田県は今年、情報公開請求に市町村別の結果を部分公開し、鳥取県南部町は学校別の結果を開示した。こうした事態を受け、文科省が専門家会議に公表方法の再検討を求めていた。

The ministry will soon compile guidelines for next year's test in line with the panel's suggestions.

　この結論に沿う形で、文科省は近く実施要領をまとめる。

The national academic achievement test was resumed last year for the first time in 43 years, with sixth-grade primary school students and third-year middle school students being tested on arithmetic, math and Japanese.

　テストは昨年、４３年ぶりに復活し、全国の小学６年生と中学３年生を対象に、算数・数学と国語で実施されている。

According to the current guidelines, municipal boards of eduction can disclose data from the tests about the board's schools as a group, and primary and middle schools can disclose data about themselves. However, prefectural boards of education should not disclose data comparing municipalities or individual schools, and the municipal boards of education should not disclose school-by-school comparative data.

　これまでの実施要領では、結果については、市町村教育委員会は自らの市町村分を、学校は自校分を公表できるが、都道府県教委は市町村・学校別を、市町村教委は学校別を公表できない。

This measure is intended to prevent excessive competition among students and the ranking of municipalities and schools.

　過度の競争や市町村・学校の序列化を防ぐため、という。

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Breaking the rules

In the aforementioned cases of data disclosure that violated the guidelines, the intent was to instill a sense of competition and intensity in teachers and schools so that they would try harder to improve students' scholastic performances.

　これに対し、独自公表が相次ぐ背景には教育現場に競争意識と緊張感を持たせ、学力向上に取り組ませようとする狙いがある。

This indicates that some prefectures and municipalities have a sense of crisis about the educational situation and do not trust some teachers and view them as lacking in skills. Building a relationship of trust among teachers, households and communities is vital and to do so it is necessary to share the examination results.

　それだけ教育の現状に危機感があるのだろう。指導力不足の教員などに対する不信感もあろう。教育現場と家庭、地域が信頼関係を築く必要がある。それには、テスト結果の共有が不可欠だ。

However, the ministry's panel of experts recommends giving prefectural boards of education a choice of whether to receive the municipal- and school-level data from the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, out of concern that the prefectural boards of education would have to disclose the results if they are asked to do so through freedom-of-information requests. If such information is provided to the prefectural governments' departments, the panel wants them to strictly adhere to the guidelines.

　ところが、専門家会議は、都道府県教委が情報公開請求を受けても開示せずに済むよう、文科省から市町村・学校別結果を受け取らないこともできることとした。知事部局などに情報を提供する場合も、実施要領の徹底を求めた。

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Use data responsibly

Special attention should be paid to small schools with few students and municipalities with only one or two primary and middle schools. However, the nationwide academic achievement test may become meaningless if results of a municipality cannot be compared to its neighbors. Also, it may be difficult to motivate students.

　児童生徒数の少ない小規模校や市町村内に小中学校が１、２校しかない市町村には、配慮が必要だろう。だが、近隣市町村とも比較できなくては、全国テストの意義が薄れる。児童生徒の向上心も生まれにくいのではないか。

While obliging schools to be mindful of excessive competition, Tottori Prefecture revised its information disclosure ordinance to allow disclosure of the results of the nationwide achievement tests by schools, except small schools.

　鳥取県は、小規模校を除き、過度の競争などに配慮する義務を課した上で学校別結果も開示できるよう情報公開条例を改正した。

Fundamentally speaking, information disclosure requests about the academic achievement test are not appropriate.

　だが、情報公開請求と学力テストは本来、なじまない問題だ。

Data, including the average percentage of correct answers, are valuable in reflecting the current state of student performance. Such information will be meaningful if prefectural boards of education release it in a responsible way, along with measures to improve performance.

　平均正答率などは学力の現状を映し出す貴重なデータだ。都道府県教委が責任を持って対策とともに公表してこそ、意味を持つ。

Analyzing the causes of poor results at a municipal and school level and seeking understanding and cooperation from parents and community residents is important. At the same time, data disclosure will help improve education policies, through more appropriate budgets and allowances for teachers.

　結果の芳しくない市町村や学校の原因を分析し、保護者や地域住民に理解と協力を求める。同時に、予算や教員の手当てなど教育施策の改善につなげていく。

It is important to tackle head-on the need to improve scholastic performance.

　そうした学力向上に正面から取り組む姿勢が欠かせまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 22, 2008)

（2008年12月22日01時20分  読売新聞）