Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 November 18 - 24 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP issues statement opposing gov’t policy causing higher college tuition

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Koike Akira held a news conference in the Diet building on November 20, releasing a statement calling for a public campaign to push the Abe government to cancel its policy to reduce state subsidies to national universities.

At the press conference, Koike, also a member of the House of Councilors, criticized the Finance Ministry’s policy to slash government subsidies to national universities and force universities to cover the shortfall on their own. He pointed out that if national universities decide to make up for the loss of subsidies by increasing tuition fees, the annual amount of tuition will increase by 400,000 yen to 930,000 yen.

Koike pointed to the fact that 53% of all college students in the country are receiving student loans and are under much pressure to repay their debts. He went on to note that the ministry scheme will force students to take on more part-time jobs, get them buried in heavier debts, and force many to give up on going to university.

Referring to Article 26 of the Constitution which guarantees the people the right to receive education, Koike stressed, “It is the government responsibility to address the current situation where many people are still kept away from higher education for economic reasons.”

The JCP lawmaker also quoted Professor Omura Satoshi, a Nobel laureate in physiology and medicine, as saying that the Abe administration shows little interest in supporting public education while it is keen on building public facilities across the nation under the name of “vitalizing the local economy”. Koike again highlighted the need for the central government to provide more financial support for public education for the sake of Japan’s future.

Citing the fact that presidents of national universities are raising their voices opposing the government policy, Koike said, “Together with concerned citizens, the JCP will work to expand the campaign demanding the cancellation of that scheme.”

The news conference was also attended by JCP member of the House of Representatives Hatano Kimie.

Past related article:
> Finance Ministry requires national universities to double their tuition [October 28, 2015]