The controversial Fundamental Law of Education revision bill raised by the Japanese government cleared the House of Representatives on Thursday in its plenary session when four opposition parties were absent.

The revision bill, handed in to the Diet in April, was aimed at strengthening patriotism among students. Its endorsement before ending of the current parliamentary session through Dec. 15 has been set as top priorities in the Diet by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The ruling coalition, made up of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito party, will from now on make full efforts to seek the bill's approval by the House of Councillors, Kyodo News said.

The 18-article bill introduces the idea of "respect for the public spirit" in its preamble, and aims to set the development of "love of the nation and homeland" as a goal of education.

The opposition camp, led by the Democratic Party of Japan, has tried to block the passage of bill, citing lack of discussion in the Diet, and is planning to strengthen efforts to block it, Kyodo News said, quoting party members.

Regarding the education law as stressing the "self" and ignoring the "public," the ruling LDP has long been seeking a revision of the law.

If cleared the upper house before mid-December, the bill would be the first success of revision of the basic education law after its introduction in 1947.

Source: Xinhua