The Rise of School Absenteeism in Japan: How Should Students in Japanese Schools be Guaranteed Learning Opportunities?

In Japan, the number of students who are absent from compulsory education has increased by about three times in 10 years. The Ministry of Education precisely regulates the school curriculum so that the educational system will maintain a consistent level of quality. However, institutions outside the system, such as international schools, have not yet been incorporated into the official curriculum. School absenteeism was previously regarded as a matter affecting solely individual students. When students withdrew from elementary and junior high schools, teachers and parents would encourage them to return.

In 2016, the Ministry of Education enacted legislation to ensure access to educational opportunities during the compulsory education stage. This was to be achieved by utilizing a new range of systems and facilities instead of reintegration into the traditional school system. To achieve this, various reforms have been implemented, including the establishment of dedicated spaces within schools to serve the needs of non-traditional students or giving them the choice to attend private unconventional schools.

However, the national education system has not undergone a significant change, resulting in the establishment of non-traditional educational institutions being concentrated in large cities. Some new institutions are expensive in contrast with the free compulsory educations. Furthermore, it is unclear whether traditional schools will recognize non-traditional educational backgrounds. Furthermore, there is a prevailing perception among educators in conventional schools that absenteeism must primarily be a consequence of student apathy or parental negligence.

This report will discuss the present state of absenteeism in Japanese schools through an examination of macro data, media reports, personal accounts from those affected, and auto-ethnographic data from the perspective of parents with truant children. Additionally, it will discuss recent positive developments in education administration and the challenges that remain, and it will compare Japanese education with systems in other countries and regions.