予算編成作業 科学・文化を衰退させるな

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 6, 2009)
Long-term view needed on science, culture plans
予算編成作業　科学・文化を衰退させるな（12月6日付・読売社説）

Investment in science, technology, culture and education do not quickly produce tangible results, although they do involve time and money. Therefore, the screening of such fields by the government's cost-cutting panel simply cannot be based solely on short-term cost-benefit analysis.
　科学技術や文化、教育などは、費用と手間がかかる割に成果がすぐには見えてこない分野だ。それを費用対効果で仕分けしてよいのだろうか。

A long-term perspective should be adopted when it comes to laying the foundations for the promotion of intellectual creativity.
　知的創造活動の基盤整備や人材の育成は、長期的視野から取り組むべき課題である。

The Government Revitalization Unit--tasked with identifying wasteful government spending--has judged that many projects in these fields should be scrapped or their budgets cut. However, the government should boldly review the panel's recent judgments and make appropriate adjustments in the budget.
　行政刷新会議の事業仕分けの結果、この分野の多くの事業が「廃止」や「縮減」と判定されたが、大胆に判定を見直して適切な予算措置をとることが必要だ。

In the fields of science and technology, the panel recommended that a program to develop a next-generation supercomputer should be effectively frozen. It also recommended the government abolish a project for promoting science and technology on a regional basis, and slash funding for a proposed collaboration between industry, academia and the government. The project aims at utilizing research carried out by universities to foster the growth of regional industries.
　科学技術関係では、次世代スーパーコンピューターの開発が「事実上の凍結」とされたほか、大学の研究成果を地域の産業育成に生かす地域科学技術振興・産学官連携などが「廃止」とされた。

Nobel Prize winners, including Leo Esaki, criticized the panel's budget reductions for science and technology projects, saying in a joint statement it "runs contrary to the government's aim of making the country a science and technology powerhouse." It is no surprise they made such a criticism.
　これに対しノーベル賞受賞者の江崎玲於奈博士らは「科学技術創造立国」に逆行する作業だと批判した。当然であろう。

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Intl competitiveness at risk

The budget cuts proposed without a long-term strategy in mind would see the foundations of the nation's quest for knowledge crumble. It also could undermine Japan's efforts to remain internationally competitive.
　長期的戦略を欠いた予算削減は知の探究の基盤を崩すもので、日本の国際競争力維持の観点からも大きな禍根を残しかねない。

The cost-cutting panel also recommended the government abolish the Children's Dream Fund, a project that aims to get more children reading books and was established after a campaign by a suprapartisan group of lawmakers following Children's Reading Year in 2000.
　２０００年の「子ども読書年」を機に超党派の国会議員が提唱して創設された「子どもゆめ基金」と、子ども読書応援プロジェクトも「廃止」と判定された。

The fund has supported about 2,000 projects every year aimed at developing environments in which more books are read to and by children.
　基金は読書の街づくりや読み聞かせなど、年間約２０００件の民間事業を支援してきた。

Next year has been designated National Year of Reading by a resolution that was unanimously adopted by both chambers of the Diet. The government should maintain this project in view of its important role in promoting the culture of the printed word.
　衆参両院で全会一致で採択された決議により、来年は「国民読書年」と定められている。活字文化推進の重要性を踏まえ、これらの事業は存続させるべきだ。

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Arts facing big cuts

Meanwhile, the panel concluded that the budget for supporting the arts allocated through the Japan Arts Council should be greatly reduced.
　また日本芸術文化振興会を通じた芸術支援の予算は、「圧倒的縮減」と判定された。

The budget is used mainly for covering the operational expenses of Tokyo's New National Theatre, which has won high praise internationally for its ballet, opera and live theater productions, as well as for promoting excellence in other cultural and artistic fields. Some members of the panel even called for state funding to be terminated in the future.
　バレエやオペラ、演劇の制作で国際的評価も高い新国立劇場の運営費や、優れた文化芸術活動の支援費用を中心とした予算だが、国庫負担を将来はゼロにするよう求める仕分け人もいた。

However, culture and art will never thrive if they are left to operate on an entirely commercial basis. In the United States and across Europe, governments actively support the arts and promote private-sector assistance through tax systems that promote donations.
　だが、商業ベースに委ねていたのでは文化・芸術は育たない。欧米諸国も国が積極的に支援をしたり、寄付税制を整備し民間による支援を促進したりしている。

Some say the promotion of culture should be left to local governments, but their culture-related budgets have been eroded by the economic crisis gripping the nation. The central government should draw up a policy that maintains the necessary assistance.
　文化振興は地方に委ねるべきだとの主張もあるが、自治体の文化予算は厳しい財政事情により削減される傾向にある。国が筋道を示し支援に取り組む必要がある。

In the education budget, a comprehensive plan for English-language education reform was judged not worth funding.
　教育予算では、英語教育改革総合プランが「廃止」とされた。

The panel said the budget for an English-language study guide for primary schoolers should be eliminated, causing dismay among teachers across the country. English-language lessons will become mandatory for all fifth- and sixth-graders in academic year 2011.
　１１年度から小学校５、６年生で必修化される英語の補助教材の予算が否定され、現場は困惑している。

The government should move to safeguard key budgets and clarify this stance as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary concern and confusion.
混乱が拡大しないよう、政府は早急に事業継続の方針を明確にすべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2009)
（2009年12月6日01時15分 読売新聞）