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With internationalization of the society and economy, the number of foreigners in Japan is increasing yearly. The total number of foreigners registered in Japan at the end of 1992 was 1.280,COO. After the amendment of the Immigration-Control and Refugee-Recognition Act of June 1990, the number of people of Japanese parentage from South America has increased notably. The number of foreign children entering Japanese schools without the needed abilities in the Japanese language are increasing. According to a survey done by the Ministry of Education. Science and Culture. Foreign pupils attending public elementary and lower secondary schools who require instruction in the Japanese language numbered 5,463 as of September 1991.Countermeasures are needed to improve Japanese language education for these pupils so that they can adapt to Japanese school life as soon as possible.

To meet this need, in 1992. the Ministy of Education, Science and Culture published Japanese language study materials, "Nihongo wo Manabo"("Let's Learn Japanese"), along with a guide book for teachers. These materials deal with matters that are basic to the foreign childrens' everyday school life. To facilitate teaching of the Japanese language at schools where foreign pupils are admitted, an additional number of teachers was allocated to such schools. The Ministry also increased the number of pilot schools for cooperation in investigative studies of guidance methods for admitting foreign children into elementary and secondary schools from 5 to 13 schools.

In 1993, the additional allocation of teachers will also be made in accordance with the 6th Plan for the Improvement of the Fixed Number of Educational Personnel at Public Compulsory Education Schools. Other measures that the Ministry will undertake are i continuing investigative studies at 14pilot schools ; preparation of materials designed to teach the Japanese language necessary for the study of school subjects, titled "Nihongo wo Manabo 2", along with a guide book for teachers ; administration of a program under which persons who understand the mother tongue of the foreign children assist with their education by circulating among the different schools to which they have been admitted ; publication of a guidance book for teaching foreign children, which describes matters for consideration when admitting foreign children j and provision of in-service training for teachers assigned to teach foreign children.