Women’s universities have been hit hardest by the fall in the school age population and Kobe Shoin is no exception to this trend. Problems have been made worse by changes in the syllabus by some faculties reducing the number of English classes. Part-time English teachers at the university are facing a major reduction in the number of classes available for next year. As well as reducing the number of classes taught by some long-standing teachers, the University is attempting to let go all four of the teachers who were freshly hired last year.

The General Union is not satisfied that the university did in fact need to carry through these kinds of cuts or that the basis on which teachers have been cut is fair and transparent. We are presently negotiating with the university over the cuts.