ABSTRACT
A tutorial education system for medical students was introduced at Kinki University in 1998. To evaluate the efficacy and to identify problems of the system, questionnaires were given to both students and tutors. Many students (approximately 80%) enjoyed the system and felt that tutorial lectures were effective. Many students believed that their selflearning time had increased and that they had developed the ability to think scientifically. However, they also thought that the material for tutorials was insufficient and that some tutors lacked teaching ability. Tutors thought that students had developed motivation (52%), problem-solving ability (58%), and debating skills (77%). Tutors also pointed out several problems, e.g., that some students had not developed self-leaning ability. Also, some tutors were poorly motivated. These findings suggest that we need to improve tutorial materials and the quality of tutors as well as fostering the self-learning ability of students.