Japan Press Weekly

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2013 February 20 - 26 [EDUCATION]

Gov’t to exempt North Korean schools from tuition-free program

Education Minister Shimomura Hakubun on February 19 announced that the ministry will revise an ordinance to exclude North Korean schools from the tuition-free program, following the government decision in December.

As a result of the revision, 10 North Korean schools across the nation, which had applied for the program, will lose their eligibility.

Prior to the decision, the ministry invited public comments on the revision of the ministerial ordinance for the system of tuition-free high schools and received 30,510 opinions. Of them, 52% supported the revision while 46% opposed.

Stating that the number of pros and cons had no impact on the ministry’s decision to exempt North Korean schools from the tuition-free system, Shimomura presented his view that schools under the influence of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan conflict with the Fundamental Law of Education which calls for education free from any undue political influence.

Related past articles:
> Kanagawa governor suspends subsidy for North Korean schools (February 15, 2013)
> Don’t exempt Korean schools from tuition-free program: students demand (February 8, 2012)