Certification; Teacher Competencies; *Teacher Evaluation; Teaching Skills IDENTIFIERS *Japan

Currently, every aspect of Japanese education in undergoing reform. The personnel management system is being structured largely from the viewpoint of two policy interests: introduction of a new teacher evaluation system and dealing with teachers ' lack of teaching skills and competencies. This paper examines these two policy interests, noting implications for teacher education. It focuses on the new teacher performance evaluation in Tokyo, which is intended to improve the competence of educational personnel and energize school organizations through appropriate evaluation of teacher competence and performance. This new evaluation system consists of a self-report evaluation and a performance evaluation by principals and head teachers. School-based training has been introduced into the schools to improve teachers recognized as lacking good teaching skills. The issue of teacher evaluation has evolved into a discussion of renewing licenses at the national level. (Contains 12 references.) (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ti 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AN