News On Japan

Number of school students in Japan falls to record low

TOKYO, Aug 25 (News On Japan) - The number of students in elementary and junior high schools in Japan has reached an all-time low due to declining birthrates, a new survey reveals.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) conducts annual surveys on the number of schools, classrooms, enrolled students, and teaching staff at each school nationwide.

According to the survey results for the 2023 academic year released by MEXT on August 23, the number of elementary school students across the nation has decreased by about 102,000 compared to the previous year, totaling approximately 6.05 million as of May 1. The number of junior high school students has also decreased by about 28,000, reaching around 3.178 million. Both figures have become the lowest ever recorded.

The decline is attributed to the impact of a declining birthrate, leading to a 42-year consecutive decrease in elementary schools. Within a single year, a total of 252 public elementary and junior high schools have disappeared.

On the other hand, the number of university undergraduates has reached an all-time high, approximately 2.633 million, an increase of 800 students compared to the previous year.

The number of female university students has also reached a record high, attributed in part to the rising percentage of women pursuing higher education at universities instead of short-term colleges.

Furthermore, the number of female teachers in junior high schools and universities has reached an all-time high, contributing to an overall record high proportion of women among the teaching staff.

MEXT explains that the trend of actively hiring female teachers in universities and similar institutions, along with the advancement of women in society, are considered factors behind these developments.

Source: ANNnewsCH

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Lime, the world’s largest electric scooter-sharing service, has announced a collaboration with a major insurance company to pursue a full-scale entry into the Japanese market.

A man was arrested in Higashi-Osaka for allegedly abducting three girls, one of whom has died, with around 80 empty medicine shells discovered in his home.

Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Japan's Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino, turned 18 on September 6, officially becoming an adult member of the Imperial family.

The Ariake Urban Sports Park, which will open next month at the former Tokyo Olympic skateboarding site, was previewed Thursday ahead of its official opening on October 12.

The total cash earnings received by workers in Japan increased by 3.6% in July compared to last year, marking the second consecutive month of positive growth in real wages after adjusting for inflation.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Education NEWS

Hi, This is Shibasaki! Today, I'll be using the new "Art Crayons" that I developed in collaboration with Pentel to create a dynamic seascape with beautiful sunset waves. This 8-color set blends effortlessly, giving you the ability to achieve painterly effects just like using watercolors! (Watercolor by Shibasaki)

September 3 is designated as 'Autumn Sleep Day,' a day to raise awareness about health and sleep, as new data reveals that nearly 80% of high school students are not getting the recommended amount of shut eye.

If you think you're underpaid, think again! These companies in Japan offer shockingly low salaries for high-skilled jobs, and because quitting is still taboo, they manage to keep their employees... (KonichiValue)

The Osaka Prefecture's unique academic assessment, known as the 'Challenge Test,' is once again being administered to third-year junior high school students this year.

At a school in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, a training exercise was held to simulate the scenario of an intruder entering the school building. Teachers used a sasumata (a pole weapon traditionally used to detain individuals) to corner the intruder.

We follow Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak. The two of them start talking after Momo rescues Okarun from getting bullied. However, an argument ensues between them (Japanese Ammo with Misa)

As the Japanese government designates August 26 as "Volcano Disaster Prevention Day" starting this year, an educational event was held at a museum in Tokyo, where participants deepened their understanding of volcanoes.

A primary school in Tokyo's Toshima Ward issued an urgent appeal to parents on its website during the summer vacation, stating, 'As of August 31, we expect three vacancies due to teachers resigning.' The message continued, asking parents to 'please introduce any acquaintances with teaching licenses.'