Separate classes for kids in Japan with disabilities ‘discrimination,’ say parents, lawyers

From The Mainichi

November 1 2022

OSAKA – Parents of children enrolled in Osaka Prefecture’s special education programs lodged a human rights complaint through the Osaka Bar Association on Oct. 31, citing the education ministry’s separate classroom policy.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has been promoting “inclusive learning” for students in special education programs so they can study in regular classrooms as much as possible. However, in April of this year, the ministry sent an advisory out to boards of education across the country that separate classrooms should be used for students in these programs at least half of the time, reasoning that the system was failing to adapt to the needs of children with disabilities in some cases.

In their complaint, the parents and lawyers claim the request for separate classes is discriminatory and amounts to a violation of human rights. They are asking the ministry to withdraw the advisory.