Can English Educations in Japan be Successful?

The Ministry of Educations, Cultures, Sports and Technologies in Japan decided to start the English class from the fifth and sixtth grade of the primary school.
The goal is that students pass the second grade of the Eiken druing the high school. The government plans almost all student will be able to communicate in English if the goal is realized.
It's really doubt because there would be much more Japanese who can communicate in English. About 20,000 people passed the 2nd grade last year. There would be more than half of million people. However almost all people can't communicate in English..