School Admission Costs for Children Increase in Japan

Tokyo, Nov. 27 (Jiji Press)–Expenditures needed for children to enter junior high and high schools in Japan have increased, a recent survey by a nongovernmental organization showed. Their average costs stood at about 116,000 yen for junior high schools, up some 10,000 yen from last year, and some 232,000 yen for high schools, up about 20,000 yen, according to Save the Children Japan. The group conducted the online questionnaire survey of 950 guardians from low-income families across the country in August. Valid responses came from 436 of them. Uniform expenditures were quoted at some 64,000 yen for junior high schools. Sportswear and textbooks cost about 21,000 yen and 16,000 yen, respectively. Expenditures for uniforms came to about 80,000 yen for high school. Personal computers and tablets cost some 79,000 yen and textbooks 36,000 yen. Many guardians complained that schools designated models of tablets to buy and that they “wanted to purchase cheaper models at electronics retail stores.” Some guardians said “uniform costs were too high although it’s a public junior high school” and “the school designated expensive brands of indoor shoes and sportswear.” Many respondents complained that expenditures for school trips and uniforms for club activities were high. “It is necessary to expand support for purchases of uniforms and tablets, not only offer tuition-free education,” a Save the Children Japan official said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]