PRACTICAL

    This Practical section introduces our subsidy program our division is in charge of, using the concepts and data explained in FUNDAMENTAL and BASIC.

1.National Subsidies for Expenditures on New Construction and Enlargement

    Constructing or enlarging present school facilities is the most familiar method of improving and maintaining public school facilities.  The subsidy program covers one half of total expenditures on new and additional constructions for the following public compulsory school facilities.

●The Rate of Subsidy

one half
(The rate of subsidy for 4,8 and 9 is one third. For exceptions, please refer to section 9. Exemption measures )

●Eligible School Facilities for Subsidy

1Elementary schools
・・・・ school buildings, gymnasiums
2Lower secondary schools
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums
3Comprehensive secondary education schools *1)(6 years), first-term course(3 years)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
4Comprehensive secondary education schools (6 years), second-term course(3 years)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
5Secondary Special Needs Schools (elementary and secondary departments)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
6Special Needs Schools (kindergarten departments)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums
7Special Needs Schools (upper secondary departments)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
8Upper secondary schools for part-time students (day/evening)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums
9Upper secondary schools with distance learning programs
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums
10Other types
・・・・meeting rooms in remote rural areas
・・・・dormitories in remote rural areas
・・・・dormitories for school teachers in remote rural areas
・・・・kindergarten buildings
  • *1)  Comprehensive Secondary Education Schools are schools that provide 6 years of education for students from 12 years old to 18 years old.

●Related Laws

・The Law Concerning the National Treasury’s Share of Expenditures for School Facilities for Compulsory Education
・・・・1,2,3 schools for the deaf, and for the blind in 5
・The Law Concerning Special Measures for the Construction of Public Schools for the Severely Physically and Mentally Handicapped
・・・・schools for students with special physical and mental needs in 5
・Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities
・・・・4, 6~9, kindergarten buildings in 10.
・The Law for the Promotion of Education in Isolated Areas.
・・・・10, except for kindergarten buildings.

2. National Subsidies for Reconstruction

    When promoting the development of public school facilities, reconstruction is as important as new construction and enlargement. "Reconstruction" can be classified into the two following categories.

  1. Reconstruction of buildings in structurally unsafe conditions
  2. Reconstruction of unsuitable buildings
    (Buildings unsuitable for utilization as educational facilities)

●The Rate of Subsidy

one third
(As for exceptions, please refer to section,  9. Exemption measures )

I. Reconstruction of buildings in structurally unsafe conditions

●School Facilities Eligible for Subsidy

1Elementary schools
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
2Lower secondary schools
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
3Comprehensive secondary education schools, first-term course
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
4Special Needs Schools (elementary and lower secondary departments)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
5Special Needs Schools(kindergarten departments)
・・・・ school buildings, gymnasiums
6Special Needs Schools (upper secondary departments)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
7Upper secondary Schools for part-time students(day/evening course) and upper secondary schools with distant learning programs.
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
8Kindergartens
・・・・buildings

●Related Laws

・The Law Concerning the National Treasury’s Share of Expenditures for School Facilities for Compulsory Education
・・・・123, schools for the deaf, and for the blind in 4
・The Law Concerning Special Measures for the Construction of Public Schools for the Severely Physically and Mentally Handicapped
・・・・schools for students with special physical and mental needs in 4
・The Law Concerning Provisional Measures on the Promotion of Reconstruction of Old Buildings of Public Upper Secondary Schools
・・・・ 7
・Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities
・・・・568

II. Reconstruction of unsuitable buildings
(Buildings unsuitable for utilization as educational facilities)

1Elementary schools
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
2Lower secondary schools
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
3Comprehensive secondary education schools, first-term course
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
3Special Needs Schools (elementary and lower secondary departments)
・・・・school buildings, gymnasiums, dormitories
4Kindergartens
・・・・buildings

●Related Laws

  • Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities

3. National Subsidies for Large-scale renovation

    Large-scale renovation is as important as new construction, extension and reconstruction in the improvement and maintenance of public school facilities. The are two purposes for large-scale renovation: to restore the functions of obsolete school facilities and to redecorate school facilities when the use of buildings changes. There are eight types of large-scale renovations, as follows.

I   Renovation of aged school facilities
II Renovation of interior design to fit new curriculums and teaching methods
III Renovation to fulfill laws and regulations
IV Installing sprinklers
V Installing air conditioners
VI Improvement of facilities for students with disabilities and others
VII Anti-earthquake reinforcement
VIII Development of intra-school LAN networks
IX Improvement of facilities for safety management

●The Rate of Subsidy

one third
    For a local government of with a fiscal capability index of over 1.00, the rate of subsidy decreases to two seventh. As for exceptions, please refer to section, 9.Exemption measures .)

●The Basic Amount of Subsidy

    In principle, the amount ranges from 70,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen.
(This is in case of renovation of aged school facilities)

●Eligible Types of Schools

    Elementary schools, lower secondary schools, comprehensive secondary education schools(first term course), special needs schools, kindergartens (buildings only)

  • Kindergarten buildings are also eligible for subsidy
  • In case of IV Installing sprinklers, only the dormitories of special educational schools are eligible for subsidy.
  • In case of VIII Development of intra-school LAN networks, upper secondary schools and comprehensive secondary education schools (second-term course) are also eligible for subsidy.

●Related Laws

  • Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities

●Eligible School Facilities

    School buildings, gymnasiums and dormitories

I Renovation of aged school facilities (established in 1983)

●Eligible Construction Types

  • (1) Full-scale renovations of interior and/or exterior of aged buildings constructed more than 20 years ago.

●Construction Costs Eligible for Subsidy

    In principle, the amount ranges from 70,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen.

II Renovation of Interior to Fit New Educational Curriculums
and Methods (established in 1983)

●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

  • (1)Renovation of interior to fit new curriculums and teaching methods
  • (2)Renovation of interior to convert surplus classrooms into special classrooms, multipurpose spaces, etc.
  • (3)Renovation of interior to convert surplus classrooms into Special spaces a new learning style.
    • Special space for the new leaning style refers to classrooms equipped with facilities suitable for information technology classes and small-group teaching promoted in the new course of study for elementary and lower secondary schools.
  • (4)Renovation and improvement of restrooms when constructed independently, or as a part of construction for (1), (2) or (3)

●Construction Costs Eligible for Subsidy

  • (1) and (2): from 20,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen
  • (3): from 10,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen
  • (4): from 4,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen
    from 20,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen

・・・・・・When construction of (1),(2) and (3) is implemented as a whole.

III Renovation to fulfill laws and regulations (established in 1988)

●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

  • (1)Construction to conform to regulations such as the Fire Services Act, the Water Supply Act, etc.
    (For example, installation of fireproof doors, fire alarms and connection to sewers, etc.)
  • (2)Construction for replacing light fittings using PCB.

●Expenditures on Constructions Eligible for Subsidy

    The amount ranges from 4,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen.

IV Installing sprinklers (established in 1988)

●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

    Installing sprinklers in dormitories of public special needs schools

●Construction Costs Eligible for Subsidy

    The amount ranges from 30,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen.

V Installing air conditioners (established in 1994)

●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

    Installing air conditioners in the following classrooms (except for cold and snowy regions):

  • music rooms, home economics rooms, libraries, teachers’ rooms, health and first-aid rooms, computer rooms, language laboratory rooms, etc.

●Construction Cost Eligible for Subsidy

    The amount ranges from 4,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen

VI Improvement of facilities for students with disabilities and other special needs (established in 1994)

●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

    Installing elevators and automatic doors for improving facilities for students and teachers with disabilities and members of the community

●Expenditures on Constructions Eligible for Subsidy

    The amount ranges from 10,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen.

VII Anti-earthquake reinforcement (established in 1995)

    School facilities also play an important role as emergency evacuation areas for local residents and others in times of disaster. Therefore, in order to enhance and strengthen disaster prevention capabilities, we promote earthquake-resistant reinforcement projects.

●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

    Reinforcement for improving the earthquake resistance of school facilities constructed before FY1981 when the Earthquake-Resistant Design Law was amended.

  • Expenditure on diagnosing the level of earthquake resistance is also eligible for  subsidies.

●Construction Costs Eligible for Subsidy

    The amount ranges from 4,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen.

VIII Development of intra-school LAN networks (established in 2000)

●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

    Renovation to enable students and others to access the Internet from all classrooms

●Construction Cost Eligible for Subsidy

    The amount ranges from 4,000,000 yen to 30,000,000 yen.

IX Improvement of facilities for safety management (established in 2002)

●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

  • (1) Introducing a surveillance system in school facilities
  • (2) Changing the positions of school management rooms, such as school offices and staffrooms, in order to assure children’s safety.

●Construction Cost Eligible for Subsidy

    The amount ranges from 10,000,000 yen to 200,000,000 yen.

4.National Subsidies for Pollution Prevention

    Programs such as new construction, enlargement, reconstruction and large- scale renovation are the main programs of our financial support for public school facilities.  At the same time, there are other special programs which our division manages. One of them is the "Pollution Prevention Program". In this program, subsidies are provided to cover one half of total expenditures for reconstruction or construction of school facilities damaged by pollution. Through this program, we strive to prevent or mitigate the damage caused by pollution and to improve the learning environment for children. The Pollution Prevention Program can be classified into two areas.

  1. Anti-Pollution Program
  2. Prevention and Extermination of Falling Ash

I. Anti-Pollution Program

The rate of subsidies, schools eligible for subsidies, related laws and miscellaneous

Anti-Pollution Prevention Designated Areas
The Law Concerning the Special Measures for State Financial Aid to the Anti-pollution Prevention Program
Anti-Pollution Measure Program
(Law 2-3-4)		 Anti-Pollution Measure Program
(Law 2-3-9)
Elementary schools
Lower secondary schools
Comprehensive secondary education sch schools
(first term course)
Special Needs Education schools
(elementary and lower secondary departments)		 Special Needs Education schools
(kindergarten)
(Upper secondary departments)		 Kindergarten
Upper secondary schools
Comprehensive secondary education schools
(second term course)
5.5/10 5.5/10 1/2
The Order for Enforcement: Article 2 The Order for Enforcement:Article 2 The Order for Enforcement: Article 2

Other areas
Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities
General areas Isolated islands
Kindergartens
Elementary schools
Lower secondary schools
Upper Secondary schools
Comprehensive Secondary Education Schools
Special Needs Education Schools		 Elementary schools
Lower secondary schools
Schools for the blind and the deaf
(elementary and lower secondary departments)
1/3 5.5/10
Guidelines for National Subsidies 2 - 4 Guidelines for National Subsidies 2 - 4

II. Prevention and Extermination of Falling Ash

The rate of subsidy, schools eligible for subsidies, related laws and miscellaneous.

Areas designated for Prevention and Extermination of Falling Ash Areas designated for Prevention and Extermination of Large Amounts of Falling Ash
Special Measures Act for countermeasures for active volcanoes
Elementary schools
Lower secondary schools
Upper secondary schools
Comprehensive Secondary education schools
Special education schools
Kindergartens		 Elementary schools
Lower secondary schools
Secondary schools (first term course)
Special education schools
(elementary and lower secondary departments)
1/2 2/3
●Construction Eligible for Subsidy

    Installing air conditioners, doors and window frames in order to prevent or mitigate damages from falling ash.


5.Facility Development Program for Promoting Partnership between Communities and Schools

    It is very important for schools, families and the local communities to cooperate and to play full roles in the education of children. MEXT provides national subsidies for the development of school facilities so that they can be used as core public facilities for local communities, for example,: spaces for learning activities supported by the local community; spaces for lifelong learning activities; spaces for communication between senior citizens and the younger generations, etc.)

●The Rate of Subsidy

one third

●Eligible School Types for Subsidy

    Elementary schools, lower secondary schools, comprehensive secondary education schools, and special needs education schools

●Related Laws

    Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities

6.Program for the Improvement of Outdoor Learning Environments

    In order to develop children’s physical strength and foster children rich in spirit, MEXT provides national subsidies to promote the improvement of outdoor learning environments, such as the replacing of existing clay or sand school grounds with grass, planting trees, maintaining athletic facilities and so on.

●The Rate of Subsidy

1/3

●Eligible School Types for Subsidy

    Elementary schools, lower secondary schools, comprehensive secondary education schools(first term), upper secondary schools, special needs education schools and kindergartens

●Related Laws

    Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities

7.Development Program for Facilities Constructed in Wood

    Wood, a Japanese traditional building material, can create a relaxed and warm learning environment.  It can play an important role in enhancing personal contacts and the exchange of experiences between children, teachers and communities, which can contribute to the rearing of children sound in mind and body.  From this point of view, MEXT provides national subsidies for the development of educational facilities utilizing wood.

The Rate of Subsidy

one third
    For a prefectural government or designated area with a fiscal capability index of over 1.00, the rate of subsidy is 1/3×1/ fiscal capability index).

●Eligible School Types for Subsidy

    Elementary schools, lower secondary schools, comprehensive secondary education schools (first term) and special education schools

●Related Laws

    Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities

8.The Development of school facilities with individual characteristics

    The types of school facilities and the ways they are maintained are different in each school. In order to enable founders of schools to improve their school facilities into ones that are rich in individuality, MEXT offers four programs of subsidies, as follows:

I   Financial aid for basic design costs
II Financial aid for developing multipurpose spaces
III Pilot model program concerning environment-friendly school facilities
IV Program for the development of school facilities that can prepare children for the future

I Financial aid for basic design costs

    MEXT provides financial aid for basic design cost when a whole school facility is designed. In doing so MEXT promotes the development of school facilities with individual characteristics, meeting the individual needs of each local community.

II Financial aid for developing multipurpose spaces

    In order to keep up with changes in forms of learning, such as making use of Information Technology（IT） and small-group instruction, multi-purpose spaces are necessary in addition to ordinary classrooms and special classrooms. For example, Special spaces for a new learning style are equipped with terminals for an intra-school LAN network and other information devices to make maximum use of IT in teaching and learning.
    In order to help each public elementary and secondary school to develop such spaces, MEXT offers preferential treatment in subsidizing for developing multi-purpose spaces.

III Pilot model program concerning environment-friendly school facilities

    Considering the need to conserve the environment and to promote environmental education, MEXT is promoting the establishment of environment-friendly school facilities （eco-schools）.
    To promote such eco-schools and carry out practical research, MEXT is supporting pilot model school programs. In addition, such eco-schools can also contribute to the environmental education of children.

IV Program for the development of school facilities that can prepare children for the future

    As a part of current educational reform, school facilities have been required to adapt to the diversification of the nation’s learning needs. For example, there is an increasing necessity to develop school facilities with unique characteristics and to promote the opening of school facilities that can serve to as the core center for local communities or others.  As a result, MEXT offers preferential treatment to such programs for the development of school facilities which satisfy specified criteria.

9. Exemption measures

    Depending on where each school is located, the circumstances surrounding students are all different. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to reduce the differences by providing more preferential subsidies to particular areas. Generally, the adjustment is implemented by increasing the rate of subsidy as follows:

・1/2 → 5.5/10
・1/3 → 1/2 , 5.5/10

●Related Laws

  • The Law for the Promotion of Education on Isolated Islands
  • Special Measures Act for the Promotion of Independence in Depopulated Areas
  • Special Measures Act for Heavy Snowfall Areas
  • The Law Concerning Special Measures for State Financial Aid for the Maintenance of Areas surrounding the New Tokyo International Airport.
  • Special Measures Act for the Promotion of Okinawa Prefecture
  • Special Measures Act for the Promotion and Development of the Amami Islands
  • Special Measures Act for the Promotion and Development of the Ogasawara Islands
  • Special Measures Act for Reservoir Areas
  • The Law for the Promotion of Mountain Villages
  • The Law for the Construction of the Tsukuba Research Science City
  • The Law for the Abolition of New Industrial City Construction Promotion Law
  • The Law Concerning Provisional Measures for the Promotion of Coal Production Areas
  • The Law Concerning Special Measures for the State Financial Aid for the Development of Suburbs of Kanto, Kinki and Central Japan areas
  • The Law Concerning Special Measures for the Preservation of Historic Sites and the Improvement of the Living Environment in Asuka Village
  • The Law Concerning Special Measures for the Promotion of a Settlement of the Northern Territory Disputes
  • Special Measures Act Concerning the Promotion of the Areas Surrounding Nuclear Power Generation Facilities
  • Guidelines for National Subsidies for Expenditures on Public School Facilities in Okinawa

    The rate of subsidies for construction or improvement of schools for the purpose of earthquake disaster measures is increased to one half, as shown in the table below.

  • The Law Concerning Special Measures for State Financial Aid for the Emergency Earthquake Prevention Program in Designated Areas for Earthquake Disaster Prevention. （Earthquake Financial Aid Law）
  • Earthquake Disaster Prevention Special Act
    （Earthquake Special Act）

The special measures for the rate of subsidy provided by the Earthquake Financial Aid Law and the Earthquake Special Act >

Categories Usual rate Earthquake Financial Aid Law Earthquake Special Act
Elementary schools
Lower Secondary Schools
Comprehensive Secondary Schools
（first term course）
*1 Heisetsu lower secondary schools		 Reconstruction 1／3 1／2（*） -
Reinforcement of school buildings （no wood） 1／3 1／2 1／2
Other reinforcement works 1／3 - -
Special Educational Schools Reconstruction 1／3   -
Reinforcement 1／3 -
Swimming pools（*4） 1／3 1／2

（* Only school buildings are eligible）

  • 1Heisetsu junior and senior high schools are affiliated, being established by the same founders, Junior high students can move to the senior high school without taking an entrance examination.

    In addition, the following laws explained in 4.National Subsidies for Pollution Prevention are also laws for providing increases in the rates of subsidies.

  • The Law Concerning Special Measures for State Financial Aid to the Anti－pollution Prevention Program
  • Special Measures Act for Active Volcanoes

10 Utilizing Surplus Classrooms

    Currently, as a result of the diminishing number of children, there are "surplus classrooms" at schools which are currently not being used and do not have plans for future use. It is important that such valuable facilities are utilized to provide students and local residents with spaces for learning activities. This is a new perspective in the development of school facilities.
    To accomplish this goal, MEXT provides national subsidies for the renovation of surplus classrooms into special rooms and other learning spaces within the framework of such plans as "3. National Subsidies for Large－scale Renovation" and "7. Development Program for Facilities Constructed in Wood". In addition, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and other ministries provide national subsidies when surplus classrooms are converted into non－school facilities, such as welfare facilities （day－service centers for old people, child welfare facilities, etc.）.
    Another important point for utilizing surplus classrooms is the simplification of the conversion procedure. As the constructions of public school facilities is partly funded by receiving national subsidies, the founders of schools are required to obtain the approval of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology when converting surplus classrooms to non－school facilities （This is prescribed in the "Law Concerning the Proper Execution of Budget of National Subsidies" －Article 22）.
    However, MEXT is seeking to promote the conversion of surplus classrooms by simplifying the necessary procedures for conversions by requiring founders of schools only to report such conversions rather than gaining approval from the Minister. Furthermore, MEXT is extending the range of the types of facilities that only require reporting when converted.

****************************************************

【Additional Information】

A.Local Bonds and the Local Allocation Tax System

    In addition to the financial support programs explained from 1 to 10, there are other financial resources available for the development of school facilities under local financial measures （Local Bonds and the Local Allocation Tax System）. Both the national subsidy system and local financial measures are complementary and they can contribute to the development of public school facilities all over Japan.

B.Other national subsidy programs for public school facilities

（Our Division is not in charge of these following programs）

I   Disaster Restoration Program
II Falling Ash Removal Program
III The Program for Construction of School Sports Facilities
IV The Program for Construction of School Lunch Facilities
V The Program for Industrial Education Facilities
VI The Program for Construction of Kindergarten Facilities

C.Other national subsidies for school facilities

（MEXT is not in charge of these following programs）

I   Subsidy for the Promotion for Power Supply Locations
*Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry subsidy.
II Subsidy for Noise Prevention Program for Educational Facilities
*Ministry of Land, Transport and Infrastructure subsidy.
III Subsidy for Noise Prevention Program for Areas Surrounding Defense Facilities
*Japan Defense Agency subsidy

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