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CHAPTER SUPPLY OF TEACHERS ANDPROVISION OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

For compulsory school children who have difficulty in attending school, because of economic reasons, various measures are taken to encourage them to attend school.

Education allowances provided by the State to school children whose family is considered as a "needy family" under tlae Daily Life Protection Law or "semi-needy family" have increased year by year both in items and in amount of assistance. As of the 1964 school year, three per cent of the total number of elementary and lower secondary school pupils were from needy families and seven per cent were from semi-needy families, both of whom are provided with education allowances to cover their expenses for textbooks, school supplies, transportation to school, school lunch, medical treatment, school tour, school security insurance, boarding, etc.

In addition to the above measures, aids under the Child Welfare Law and other regulations are also conductive to enrolment of school age children of compulsory education age. With a view to children's healthy growth and the enhancing of their physical level, the possibility of setting up a child allowance system which is intended for all the school children, has been under consideration.

Following is an outline of some of the ways and means employed to encourage school attendance in some of the other countries:

In the United States, "aid to dependent children" is provided for children of poor families by the Federal Government and the state governments under the provision of the Social Security Act. In 1958, the average amount of the aid was about 27 dollars per pupil. Through such provision, children's welfare and their access to education are secured in the country.

In the United Kingdom, the Child Law obligates local authorities to provide welfare measures for children under 17 years of age in need of protection and assistance, through which school attendance is encouraged. Financial aids to the measures taken under the Law are financed equally by the local authorities and the national government, while the parents of such school children are obligated to bear up to a half of the expenses incurred according to their economic ability.

In France, there is established a foundation named "La Caisse des Ecoles" which is an organ offering assistance to pupils of poor families for their school attendance. According to the provisions of the Law for Subsidy to Families having School Children enacted in 1951, the subsidy from the state to the foundation has been largely increased, and then assistance in the amount of 13 francs per pupil for one school term is provided to the parents having dependent children of compulsory education ages.

In the Federal Republic of Germany, measures for pupils of poor families such as exemption from tuition and free school supplies have been promoted.

The system of child allowance has been established in various countries including the United Kingdom, France and the Federal Republic of Germany.