Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART II Chapter 10 Section 6 2

In fiscal 1993 the number of children returning to Japan after long-term residence overseas reached approximately 13,000 (combined total for the primary and secondary school levels). It is vital to enable these children to adapt successfully to school life in Japan. It is also important to realize the potential of the qualities that these children have acquired while living overseas.

Measures implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture for this purpose include the establishment of special classes for children returning from overseas in schools affiliated with national universities, the designation of pilot schools to cooperate in research on education for these children, and the designation of regions to promote education for children returning from overseas. The Ministry also holds research conferences and guidance seminars and prepares handbooks on education for children returning from overseas. Another focus of effort is the selection process for upper secondary schools and universities. The Ministry is encouraging more schools to establish special quotas or modify their selection methods to accommodate children returning from overseas.

In June 1993 the Study Group on Overseas Japanese Children's Education submitted a report titled "Measures for Enhancing Education for Children Returning from Overseas." The report identified a number of basic perspectives, including

The group also recommended measures to improve education for children returning from overseas. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is working to enhance measures in this area, in line with the spirit of the report.

The children of returnees from extended stays in China often lack Japanese language proficiency and are not used to Japanese life and customs. Special care must be taken to provide these children with instruction in Japanese and guidance to enable them to adapt to Japanese life and customs and learning in schools. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is working to enhance guidance and ensure that the children of returnees from extended stays in China are actively welcomed. It has designated pilot schools to cooperate in research on education for such children. Other measures include a program of visits by Chinese-speaking assistants, the preparation and distribution of Japanese language teaching materials, and the organization of seminars for teachers of returnees from extended stays in China.