The Japanese government planned to implement standardized tests such as TOEFL and IELTS, alongside the University Entrance Common Test, to measure English language abilities, including speaking, with the intention of developing global talents capable ...
The Japanese government planned to implement standardized tests such as TOEFL and IELTS, alongside the University Entrance Common Test, to measure English language abilities, including speaking, with the intention of developing global talents capable of competing in the world. However, this plan failed due to the then Ministry of Education’s provocative remarks on socio-economic inequalities. This incident suggests that the failure of the plan resulted from issues of procedural and substantive fairness. Thus, this study intends to describe the unreasonable implementation of the plan and to examine the discussion on fairness in university admission within a governmental committee. As a result, this research suggests that Japanese society is approaching a critical moment when the issue of fairness becomes increasingly important, particularly with the diversification of university admissions and the widening gap across classes and regions.