Japan Press Weekly

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2017 July 19 - 25 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Poverty influences children’s educational access

A Welfare Ministry survey found that the college-going rate of children in welfare recipient households was less than half of that of all households.

According to the survey, the percentage of students who go to colleges and other higher education institutions from families on welfare was 33.1%, as of April 1, 2016. The college-going rate of children in all families was 73.2% (the Education Ministry’s survey in fiscal year 2015).

Higher education institutions include universities, junior colleges, and such schools as specialized training colleges and preparatory schools. Looking further at the types of schools where students enrolled, the percentage of students in welfare recipient households who went to universities or junior colleges was low, 19.0%, compared to 51.8% of students in all households. Meanwhile, the proportion of children who chose to enter specialized training colleges was 14.1% in families receiving public assistance and 21.4% in all families.

Of household heads from households receiving livelihood protection, 38.9% were junior high-school graduates and 32.2% were high school and specialized vocational high school graduates. Together with 9.4% of high school and specialized vocational high school dropouts, more than 80% of household heads gave up going on to higher education. This shows that children with parents who had a low level of education are trapped in a cycle of poverty.

It is essential to create the environment where children can go to schools and keep learning without anxieties in order to get a job which pays a living wage. The government should immediately take measures to reduce the burden of educational expenses, with a view to realize free education.