This document is an English-language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) of a report on secondary education by the Japanese Central Advisory Council on Education. In the light of global educational trends, the Council was unanimous in its opinion that Japanese secondary education needed reform. The fundamental problems in Japan are these: (1) there is an overemphasis in Japan on formal education, and (2) there is too much prejudice in favor of certain white collar occupations, intellectual ability is overvalued, and technical skill is undervalued. These shortcomings have resulted in educational uniformity to the detriment of free development of individual aptitudes and abilities. Better methods of vocational guidance should be developed in the senior stage. Combining junior and senior high schools should be considered along with more flexible curricula. Better methods are needed for student selection. The necessity for providing senior high school for all was also recognized by the Council. The senior year should be made compulsory. The curriculum should be diversified to meet the demands for new specializations and manpower needs. (Author/GDB)