March 14, 2011

To:
Prefectural boards of education
Designated city boards of education
Prefectural governors
Mayors of municipalities with certification,
in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 12 of
the Act on Special Zones for Structural Reform,
that oversee education management organizations
(which establish elementary/junior high/high schools)

From:
Kan Suzuki
Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology  

Notice on Facilitating Students’ School Attendance, etc., in Areas Affected by the 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake  

     We request that each prefectural/designated city board of education give due consideration to the points below, with respect to the handling of issues relating to the facilitation of school attendance by students, etc., in areas stricken by the 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake. We further request that you provide the necessary guidance and support to schools that you oversee and municipal boards of education under your jurisdiction, and obtain their understanding with regard to issues covered in this notice.

    We also request prefectural governors and mayors of municipalities with certification in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 12 of the Act on Special Zones for Structural Reform that oversee education management organizations (which establish elementary/junior high/high schools), to give due attention to the proper handling of matters described below at public schools, and obtain the understanding of schools within your jurisdiction/oversight with regard to issues covered in this notice.

1. On accepting disaster-stricken students, etc., into public schools:  

• This issue must be dealt with as flexibly as possible; students from disaster-stricken areas should be accepted into public schools within a region in a prompt manner, if they so request.
• The same applies to the flexible selection of such students in high schools, etc., as well as special consideration in cases where acceptance may result in over-capacity

2. On the handling of textbooks in the compulsory education stages:

• Textbooks for the 2010 school year should be provided free-of-charge to students from disaster-stricken schools in the compulsory education stages, in the same manner as regular transferees
• In cases where said students have either lost or possess damaged textbooks from their previous schools, they should also be provided with a corresponding textbook free-of-charge
• Moreover, any necessary textbooks should be provided free-of-charge even in the absence of certificates that confirm previous issuance of said textbooks  

3. On the handling of enrollment fees at public kindergartens, high schools, and special needs schools, etc.:

• Concerned municipalities/public agencies should give due consideration to systems for waiving or reducing school-related fees, in cases where individuals (including disaster-stricken students) who bear the financial burden of students’/children’s tuition (or childcare), enrollment (admission), course dues, and dormitory/residential fees (accommodations), etc., are adversely affected by the disaster and consequently unable to make such payments.

4. On attendance/enrollment assistance, etc.:

• Students/children who require assistance with regard to school attendance, etc., as a result of the disaster, should be dealt with as promptly and flexibly as possible, with regard to both recognition of their predicament and the provision of school supplies, school lunch fees, etc., even in cases where customary procedures are difficult or impossible to perform.
• Furthermore, special consideration should be given to high school students, etc., who require scholarships/financial aid as a result of the disaster.
• In particular, high school seniors (students for whom graduation is upcoming) should be notified of financial assistance that they can avail themselves of, such as university grants including scholarships, etc., provided by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO).   

5. On the certification, etc., of course completion:

• Schools in which disaster-stricken students are enrolled should act to flexibly deal with the process of certifying, etc., their graduation or course completion at their respective grade levels, and give due consideration to the avoidance of any detriments or disadvantages that may affect their further academic admission/advancement in general.

6. On the provision of supplementary classes:

• Schools in which disaster-stricken students are enrolled should give due consideration to alleviating factors that impede said students’ academic progress in cases where they are unable to receive adequate lessons/classes, by implementing necessary measures such as supplementary classes, etc., where possible.  

7. On the provision of health counseling, etc., including mental health care

• Schools in which disaster-stricken students are enrolled should give due consideration to proper efforts for alleviating possible mental health problems, etc., experienced by said students, through the provision of interim health examinations and health counseling that also covers mental health issues.
• Additionally, the same considerations should be given to schools that re-open in disaster-stricken areas, as well as for schools in other areas, with an outlook to the proper handling of students’ mental health.  

For further details, please contact:

Elementary & Secondary Education Planning Divison
Elementary & Secondary Education Bureau,
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
at (Tel) 03-6734-2589, (Fax) 03-6734-3731
Email: syoto@mext.go.jp