Record 245,000 students absent from schools in Japan in FY2021

A total of 71,704 students absent for 30 days or more due to concerns about COVID-19 infections were not included in the figure.

Even so, the education ministry believes the surge in the number of students absent may be attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Genius deduction.

"Restrictions in activities such as sports meets and field trips were believed to have reduced students' motivation to attend school," a ministry official said, in reference to the pandemic.

"And there were also reports of difficulties in returning to life's normal rhythm after it was disrupted by school closures," the official said.

that’s what happens when you shut down schools or individual classes every week just because one kid gets sick.

> Cases of bullying, which had drastically declined in fiscal 2020, returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 500,562 cases at elementary schools, 97,937 cases at junior high schools and 14,157 cases at high schools.

what do you expect when you keep the kids in one group for 3-6 years . Try shuffling them up every year and arranging classes by each subject’s different skill levels, not by home room.

So many problems can be solved with very simple solutions.

I mean if your have competent people at the helm that is. Not the usual moronic dinosaurs.

You can see a similar phenomenon can be seen in many other countries too. Time for the obsolete Prussian militaristic system of education to be overhauled.

It's been a very difficult time for everyone since the pandemic hit, but more so for the young ones. This makes it much more important to make sure each and every student feels safe and welcome when at school. It also helps to add a bit more fun stuff over strict studying to help add some enjoyment.

These Surveys have got it all wrong, it's got nothing to do with Bullying, or COVID, but simply sheer Laziness and addiction to "Smart" Mobile Phones - with particularly emphasis upon Gaming and Social Media.

Time for the obsolete Prussian militaristic system of education to be overhauled

Are you sure? I guess if that system really would be followed and adapted to contemporary times and needs, there wouldn’t even be any absentees, bullying and suicides. And at least they would even learn something out of the curriculum again , like math, languages, geography, physics, chemistry, biology etc, instead a situation like this stated above, ‘Restrictions in activities such as sports meets and field trips were believed to have reduced students' motivation to attend school’. As if schools are meant to be a place for sports, leisure or club activities. They of course are not such a place.

"Restrictions in activities such as sports meets and field trips were believed to have reduced students' motivation to attend school," a ministry official said, in reference to the pandemic.

No doubt. It's not as if what's happening in the classroom is enough to keep kids at school. Am amazed actually there are not more kids that drop out. It's a dull and dreary world behind those safely closed classroom doors. Shhhhhh

The kids copy bad behavior from parents and persons in authority. Bullied kids at home are often the bullies at school. Simply, the problem emanates from the home. I’ll leave it at that!

Asked why they were absent, 49.7 percent of the schools cited "apathy and anxiety" of the students,

Which also suggests to me that parents have not been doing their jobs either!

It is also LONG overdue that Japanese schools institute a system of holding kids back if they do not meet standards for being promoted to the next grade. These kids can stay out of school this long, but still get promoted, and graduate, without learning a damn thing!

People are saying that it is the mask wearing. Wearing masks all day is taking a huge toll on the children they say, and absent rates are skyrocketing.

People are saying that it is the mask wearing.

What people? I mean heck, there are lost of "people" that think wearing masks is taking social responsibility, and it's not just about themselves, but others.

So which people are right?

lost.... meant to write LOTS.... sorry fat fingers!

If students feel more comfortable studying from home full time, then that should be an option open to them. They shouldn't be forced to return to the class if they don't want to. They should have the option. We have the technology.

If students feel more comfortable studying from home full time, then that should be an option open to them. They shouldn't be forced to return to the class if they don't want to. They should have the option.

Quite so, they also though need better support services than are currently available.

We have the technology.

We do, but Japanese schools are woefully lacking!

Quite so, they also though need better support services than are currently available.

We have the technology.

We do, but Japanese schools are woefully lacking!

Preaching to the choir brother!