Japan Press Weekly

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2018 February 28 - March 6 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

18,000 children’s applications for admission to public nurseries rejected: JCP Tokyo assemblypersons’ group

As of the end of February, the number of children who suffered from rejection of their parents’ applications for admission to authorized day nurseries amounted to 17,961 in 34 municipalities in Tokyo.

The Japanese Communist Party Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Members’ Group on February 28 held a press conference in the Tokyo government office building and published a report regarding its survey of all the 53 municipalities.

At the press conference, Izumi Naomi, JCP Tokyo assemblypersons’ group vice secretary general, said, “Although the number of children waiting to enter authorized day care centers appears to have decreased from the previous survey in March 2017, nearly 18,000 children are unable to receive public childcare services, which is serious.” Izumi went on to say that seeking to solve the issue of children awaiting admission to authorized nurseries, the JCP will make its utmost efforts to push the Tokyo government to build more facilities.

On the previous day, childcare workers and parents held a rally in the Diet building to demand more public nurseries and an increase in the number of childcare workers.

JCP member of the House of Councilors Kira Yoshiko delivered a speech in solidarity.

Kira stressed, “Childcare workers are important partners with parents in childrearing. It is the government responsibility to improve the basic childcare infrastructure,” and expressed her determination to work hard in the Diet to mandate quality childcare services for all children.

Past related articles:
> Parents make request to Dietmembers for more childcare centers
[ February 23, 2018]
> Gov’t is too slow to achieve ‘zero’ waiting list to enter childcare centers: JCP Tamura [March 4, 2017]
> JCP Tokyo assemblypersons’ group submits proposal calling for more authorized childcare centers [September 9, 2016]