Currently causing a [semi-official] panic at my elementary schools and Board of Education.

Maybe "panic" is too strong a word, but everybody is "concerned," and it is a topic of discussion.

Teachers prepare for new curriculum : The Language Connection : Features : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri):

"Under current national curriculum regulations, primary schools may offer English lessons at their discretion as part of a general studies class, but the upcoming revision of the curriculum, whose draft was unveiled last week, makes English compulsory for fifth- and sixth-year students--about one class hour per week.

...At primary schools, homeroom teachers teach all the subjects to the students for whom they are responsible. However, primary school teachers do not get training in English teaching when acquiring their teaching licenses. For this reason, the question of who should offer such lessons has become a major issue.

...The upcoming revision will require primary schools to offer fifth- and sixth-year students at least one class hour of lessons per week..."

And they are, of course, doing this while cutting funding for the JET Programme. So... yeah, okay... maybe not thought out the best, there.