200,000 Children with Disabilities in “Special Needs Classes” Reports Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in FY2022 Survey

From The Fukushi Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan

September 21 2024

TOKYO – A survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on the 6th revealed that the number of children with disabilities who used “part-time class instruction” at public and private elementary, junior high and high schools, where they are enrolled in regular classes but receive lessons in separate rooms as needed, reached 198,343 in 2022, a new record high. Considering the impact of the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred in January this year, no survey was conducted in Ishikawa Prefecture except for national schools.

This is an increase of about 14,000 (about 8%) from 183,879 in 2021. 80% of children and students in part-time classes are elementary school students, but the increase in the number is greater for junior and senior high school students. Part-time classes at high schools began in 2018, and the number of students using them was 508, but in 2022 it increased fourfold to 2,055.

When limited to public schools, about 80% of elementary schools have children using part-time classes. On the other hand, the number is only 50% for public junior high schools and 11% for public high schools.

Among the types of disabilities among children attending part-time classes, “language disorders,” “ADHD,” and “autism” each account for over 20%. Weak eyesight, physical disabilities, and illnesses each account for less than 1%.

The number of children in compulsory education has decreased by 10% over the past 10 years, to 9.41 million in fiscal 2011. The number of children receiving special needs education, including part-time classes, is approximately 640,000 (6.8%), double the number from 10 years ago. The increase in part-time classes in particular has been significant.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities advocates “inclusive education,” in which children with disabilities are not separated from other children and students, but Japan’s current situation has been criticized as going against this.