Japan Govt Asks Municipalities to Help Foreign Kids Enter School

March 20, 2019

Tokyo- Japan's education ministry on Monday asked local governments for support for foreign children living in Japan to enter school.

The ministry called on the country's 47 prefectures and designated major cities to provide foreign guardians with appropriate information.

It has repeatedly requested municipalities to secure opportunities for foreign children to attend school. The latest notice comes ahead of the planned enforcement of the revised immigration control law in April for accepting more foreign workers to the country.

In the notice, the ministry stressed the importance of taking flexible measures if needed, such as placing children in lower grades suited to their Japanese-language ability.

According to national statistics, the number of foreigners registered as residents in Japan and at the age of compulsory education totals some 120,000. Of them, at least some 18,000 have uncertain school attendance status.

The ministry, which plans to launch its first nationwide survey on school attendance status of foreign children around April, also called for cooperation for the program from the local governments. Jiji Press