Oct 26 (NHK) - A government survey has found that more than 410,000 cases of bullying were reported at schools in Japan during the 2017 academic year that ended in March. The figure was the highest ever.
The education ministry says boards across the nation reported 414,378 cases at elementary, junior and senior high schools as well as schools for children with special needs. The figure was up more than 91,000 cases from the previous school year.
More than 317,000 cases were reported at elementary schools, up nearly 80,000 cases.
Over 80,000 cases occurred at junior high schools, nearly 15,000 at senior high schools and a slightly over 2,000 at special support schools.
The nationwide average of cases per 1,000 students was 30.9. The highest number was reported in Miyazaki Prefecture, at 108.2, and the lowest in Saga Prefecture at 8.4. This is a gap of close to 13 times.
The survey says the number of serious cases, which pose a serious threat to life or body, totaled 474, up 78 from the previous year.
Professor Daisuke Fujikawa at Chiba University's Faculty of Education says the sharp increase shows teachers have greater awareness of the problem.
But Fujikawa adds that many schools are slow to respond after recognizing bullying cases. He says the principal must take the initiative to quickly and systematically deal with the issue.
Source: ANNnewsCH
