Japan Press Weekly

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2009 March 4 - 10 [EDUCATION]

Action held against blacklisting student loan recipients

College students and their supporters on March 4 took to the streets in Tokyo to campaign in opposition to the blacklisting of those who are in arrears with repayment of student loans.

A private university student said that voices are mounting against the decision of the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) last December to force loan borrowers to sign a paper to allow it to send their information to consumer data firms if they are in arrears with the repayment of loans for more than three months.

A student from the Tokai area introduced his experience of using student loans when he had to spend 200,000 yen to be operated on for appendicitis. Stressing that the loan system supports students’ tuition payments, living conditions and health, he said that the “blacklisting” plan will take away such security from them.

JASSO workers’ union chair Fujii Kazuko called for the movement to be strengthened to urge the organization to provide more interest-free loans for students and to create a scholarship system.