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CHAPTER . EXPANSION OF EDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIES

The enrollment ratio at the compulsory education level in Japan is as high as in other major countries. Almost all school-age children are enrolled in schools.

Table 3. Percent of Age Group Enrolled at flue Level of Compulsory Education in Various Major Countries

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Note: Age ranges, enrollment and population of the corresponding age given in Basic Table 5. Basic Table 5

It should not be forgotten, however, that although small in number there are pupils who are absent from school for Ions periods of time due to sickness, poverty and other reasons. The number of long absentees in elementary and lower secondary schools in Japan (those pupils who were absent from school for not less than 50 days during one school year either continuously or intermittently) has been decreasing every year. In 1969 it was approximately 64,000 or O.5% of all pupils. The highest proportion of these was accounted for by sickness, followed by direct school evasion (66% and 20% respectively). The number of long absentees for economic reasons has been on the decrease in recent years. It is necessary, however, to take measures to encourage the attendance of those who have been absent for long periods for other than economic reasons as well.

One such measure is the provision of evening classes at the lower secondary school level (so-called "evening lower' secondary schools") by some local authorities. These evening classes enroll not only those who are unable to tatted regular day classes for economic reasons etc., but also those who did not finish compulsory education due to the poverty following World War and those who although they finished compulsory education under the old system, want to obtain graduation certificates from the existing lower secondary schools. As of October [969, evening classes had been set up in 20 lower secondary schools in six prefectures, enrolling601 pupils. The number of these classes and their pupils has been decreasing in recent years, and there are now more over-age pupils than school-age pupils attending. The establishment of evening classes in lower secondary schools presents many problems for the structure of education, and therefore it is necessary to consider what the future pattern should be.