In the AI Era, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Proposes Revising High School Japanese Language Subject Structure to Focus on Literature

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

AI時代に文学の学びを 高校国語の科目構成を見直す案 文科省

2026年5月12日6:59

文部科学省

文部科学省は、高校の国語の科目構成を大幅に見直し、文学作品を重点的に学ぶ科目などを新設する案を示しました。AIやSNSが普及する中、対話する力や人間の感性を育むのが狙いです。

小中学校や高校の教育目標と内容を定めた学習指導要領はおおむね10年ごとに改訂されていて、中教審＝中央教育審議会は教科ごとの専門部会に分かれて検討を進めています。

11日、国語の専門部会が開かれ、これまでの高校生の課題として理系の生徒を中心に文学の学びが不足する一方で、AIやSNSの普及で対話する力や人間の感性を育む必要があるとして、科目構成を大幅に見直す案が示されました。

具体的には高校2年生以降の選択科目の中に小説などの文学作品や古典を重点的に学び感性を育む「言語文化II（2）」や論説文や批評文の読解、それにディベート方法を学ぶ「現代の国語II（2）」などを新たに設けるとしています。

また、さらに学習を深めたい生徒向けの科目として、「論説と批評」や「対話と表現」「文学と叙述」、「古典と文化」の4つを新設するとしています。

中教審は、専門部会での議論をことしの夏ごろまでに終えて今年度中に答申し、高校では2032年度以降に実施される予定です。

Translation

In the AI Era, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Proposes Revising High School Japanese Language Subject Structure to Focus on Literature

May 12, 2026, 6:59 AM

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology had proposed a major revision of the high school Japanese language subject structure, including the creation of new subjects that focus on the study of literary works. The aim was to cultivate communication skills and human sensitivity amidst the spread of AI and social media.

The curriculum guidelines, which defined the educational goals and content for elementary, junior high, and high schools, were revised approximately every 10 years. The Central Council for Education (CEC) conducted these revisions through specialized subcommittees for individual subject.

On the 11th the Japanese language subcommittee had a meeting, noting to date a challenge for high school students was the lack of literature education, particularly among science students. It presented a proposal to significantly revise the subject structure. In light of the spread of AI and social media there was a need to cultivate communication skills and human sensitivity,

Specifically, the plan proposed adding new elective subjects for second-year high school students and above, such as "Language and Culture II (2)," which would focus on studying literary works like novels and classical literature so as to cultivate sensitivity, and "Modern Japanese Language II (2)," which would teach the reading of expository essays and critical essays, as well as debating methods.

Furthermore, for students who wished to deepen their learning, four new subjects would be created: " Expository Essays and Critical Essays," "Dialogue and Expression," "Literature and Narrative," and "Classical Literature and Culture."

The Central Council for Education planned to complete discussions in its expert subcommittees by this summer and submit its recommendations within this fiscal year, with implementation in high schools scheduled for 2032 and beyond.

So, amidst the spread of AI and social media, Japan has proposed a major revision of the high school Japanese language subject structure. Specifically, they propose to increase studying time on the learning of literary works like novels and classical literature so as to cultivate human sensitivity, and also to teach expository essays and critical essays, as well as debating skills. Apparently, AI is affecting students’ face to face communication skills, among other things.