Although a record number of foreign children in schools in Fukushima Prefecture were found to need Japanese language assistance in the 2023 fiscal year, the prefecture is lagging behind in providing a sufficient learning environment for these children.
According to the prefecture, 311 children of foreign nationality attended public primary, secondary and high schools in the year ending in March. Of these, a record 113 students – or more than a third – were found not to have fully understood Japanese and needed support.
Support groups are calling for a review of a special quota for foreigners in high schools in the prefecture, claiming that the current eligibility to take the entrance exams does not reflect reality.
