LDP gives up planned cap on preschool education aid

November 22, 2017

Tokyo- Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has given up the idea of setting a cap on planned financial assistance aimed at making preschool care and education free of charge, Jiji Press learned Tuesday.

Previously, the ruling party planned to limit the financial assistance to certain levels for wealthy families that use expensive preschool care and education services.

The LDP decided to scrap the idea after opposition parties questioned whether the ruling party is keeping its election promise to make preschool care and education free of charge for all children aged 3 to 5.

In a draft proposal to be submitted to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday, the LDP said the free-of-charge program will cover all types of facilities, including those not meeting state standards.

The draft sought measures to realize free services by providing assistance based on the national average fees, though it stopped short of saying how much the assistance should be.

The draft also called for improving work conditions of nursery and kindergarten staff, apparently taking into account the pressing challenge of eliminating capacity shortages at such facilities.

On a plan to make care services free of charge for children up to 2, the draft said such a measure should cover low-income households exempted from paying residential taxes for the time being. Jiji Press