TOKYO, 1 NOV – A total of 346,482 primary and secondary school students in Japan are classified as truant in 2023, marking an annual increase for eleven consecutive years and the highest number ever recorded, reports Xinhua.
According to the latest survey by the education ministry, the number shows an increase of more than 47,000 students, or more than 15 percent compared to the previous year.
In detail, a total of 130,370 primary school students were absent for 30 days or more, which is five times more than the number a decade ago, while 216,112 secondary school students were found to be absent, recording a 2.2-fold increase for the same period.
The report states lack of motivation to attend school sessions as the cause of absenteeism, followed by anxiety or depression and disrupted daily routine.
Additionally, reported cases of bullying reached a record high of 732,568 incidents across all types of schools, with primary schools accounting for the majority of cases.
Following that, the ministry emphasized the need for special education support and improvements in the detection and handling of bullying cases in schools, including special attention to organizational responses to avoid worse consequences. – Named
