Teachers found incompetent in Japan

TOKYO, May 5 (UPI) -- Almost 500 teachers in Japan were cited for incompetence in 2003, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Nearly one in every 2,000 teachers at public schools across the country was judged to be incapable of instructing students, Mainichi Daily News reported Wednesday.

The number was up 332 from 2002, following ministry instructions for boards of education to take a harder stance against incompetence in education.

Ministry officials surveyed boards of education in Japan's 47 prefectures and 13 major cities. Kanagawa had the most teachers found incompetent, 44, followed by 28 in Kagawa, and 25 in Hiroshima.