August 13, 2021
Japanese Communist Party members of the House of Councilors Yamashita Yoshiki, JCP vice chair, and Kira Yoshiko received a visit from the students' committee leadership of the National Federation of University Cooperative Associations at the Upper House Members' Office Building on August 12 and listened to their demands.
Yasui Masayuki, chairperson of the students' committee, reported that many students are undergoing hardships due to a sharp drop in earnings from their part-time jobs under the protracted COVID-19 pandemic situation, and that economic disparities are increasing among students because of the difference in their parents' financial situations.
According to Yasui, with college life restricted to online lessons at home, most students want face-to-face lessons and direct communication with lecturers and other students. Among university freshmen and sophomores who have been taking classes online for most of their time since they entered university, one in three students have no more than five university friends.
Yasui said that they are, however, doing their best to regulate their daily life in order to keep their motivation to study amid the pandemic. Another leader of the students' committee said, "We have offered students places to make friends by using a teleconference system so that students can bond with each other."
Yamashita in response said, "I understand that many students are now unable to enjoy their college days which are supposed to help them grow through personal connections with friends." Kira said, "The problem lies with the absence of public support for young people in the pandemic." The two lawmakers promised to work in the Diet to ensure growth opportunities for young people.
Yasui Masayuki, chairperson of the students' committee, reported that many students are undergoing hardships due to a sharp drop in earnings from their part-time jobs under the protracted COVID-19 pandemic situation, and that economic disparities are increasing among students because of the difference in their parents' financial situations.
According to Yasui, with college life restricted to online lessons at home, most students want face-to-face lessons and direct communication with lecturers and other students. Among university freshmen and sophomores who have been taking classes online for most of their time since they entered university, one in three students have no more than five university friends.
Yasui said that they are, however, doing their best to regulate their daily life in order to keep their motivation to study amid the pandemic. Another leader of the students' committee said, "We have offered students places to make friends by using a teleconference system so that students can bond with each other."
Yamashita in response said, "I understand that many students are now unable to enjoy their college days which are supposed to help them grow through personal connections with friends." Kira said, "The problem lies with the absence of public support for young people in the pandemic." The two lawmakers promised to work in the Diet to ensure growth opportunities for young people.
