24 women seek damages for unfair entrance exams

Oct 30, 2018 | News On Japan

Oct 30, 2018 (NHK) - A group of women is demanding that Tokyo Medical University refund their entrance exam fees and pay damages for their unfair treatment.

The women, aged from their teens to their 30s, failed the university's entrance exams between 2006 and 2018. The university is believed to have begun selecting applicants based on gender around 2006. One of the lawyers representing the former applicants delivered a document describing their demands to university officials on Monday.

The women are demanding a total of about 68,000 dollars to cover exam fees paid and consolation money. They are also asking the university to disclose their exam results.

This is the first case in which former applicants have launched a class-action grievance against the university since the matter surfaced.

Lawyer Sakura Uchikoshi says a prompt and sincere response by the university would help it restore the public's trust, as this is a serious case of discrimination against women. She says such a response would also help these women regain their self-esteem.

Koichi Kanazawa, a university official with the general affairs department, says the university will decide how to respond after reading the document.

Last week, an independent panel appointed by the university revealed that 55 female applicants were listed as failing the exams last year and this year despite scoring better than passing grades. The university is due to decide on its course of action by early next month.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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