Japan Press Weekly

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2012 September 5 - 11 [GREAT EAST JAPAN DISASTER]

Only 32% of elementary and junior high schools have quakeproof ceilings and lighting fixtures installed

Only 32% of public elementary and junior high schools finished making their school buildings’ ceilings and lighting fixtures quake-resistant as of April 1, an education ministry’s survey showed on September 4.

Following the collapse of a number of school gym ceilings fell due to the 3.11 earthquake last year, the education ministry surveyed 30,395 public elementary and junior high schools around the country excluding some areas of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures regarding quake-proof measures implemented.

Of them, 20,069 (66%) responded that they had conducted seismic inspections of non-structural elements, such as ceilings and lighting. However, those who answered they already had all the recommended improvements made were only 9,730 schools (32%).

The most common reason why they hesitated to implement the needed improvements was because they “put priority on making school buildings quake resistant” rather than improving non-structural elements (32.9%).