The Nippon Foundation, NGO Katariba, and 4 Local Governments Conclude Agreement for Pilot ProjectNew support to ensure that 130,000 children not attending school are not left behind

The Nippon Foundation and the NGO Katariba have concluded an agreement to work with four local governments with the aim of reducing the number of children who are not attending school and not receiving other support services. Under the agreement, a new pilot project that is intended to lead to learning and support for children not attending school will be carried out with four municipalities: Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture; Kokubunji City, Tokyo; Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture; and Osaki Town, Kagoshima Prefecture. A signing ceremony with representatives of The Nippon Foundation, Katariba, and the four municipalities was held at the Foundation’s headquarters building in Tokyo on October 2. The tie-up will provide comprehensive support to these municipalities to address issues related to absenteeism so that as many children as possible will be able to learn and receive the support they need.

According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, a record high of roughly 490,000 children were absent from school (elementary through junior high school) for extended periods during the 2023 school year for reasons including illness, economic circumstances, and refusal to attend school. Local governments, schools, and private-sector organizations were providing various forms of support to some of these students, but roughly 130,000, or 40% of those refusing to attend school, were not receiving counseling or guidance. Katariba is an NGO that provides learning opportunities and support to children who do not attend school for reasons including living in depopulated areas or areas damaged by natural disasters, or because of their family environment.