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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SPORTS AND CULTURE 1995 > Special Report 1 (3)

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Special Report. The Response of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
1. The Extent of Damage and Emergency Measures in the Immediate Aftermath
(3) Measures Concerning School Education


Many schools in the disaster area suspended classes immediately after the earthquake. On the day after the earthquake 42 of the 58 universities and other institutions of higher education and more than 600 of the 1,531 elementary and lower and upper secondary schools in Hyogo Prefecture were closed. A variety of systems to enable continued educational activities were implemented during the closure period. For example, children were instructed to attend school periodically to engage in study activities. Some schools were able to resume classes by using other schools' facilities, while other schools reduced class hours or used shift systems. Efforts were thus made to resume classes as soon as possible.

The MESSC headquarters advised the Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education to implement emergency repairs and other essential measures promptly to prevent secondary disasters and ensure the safety of children after the resumption of school education. Construction technicians from MESSC, national schools, and prefectural boards of education were sent to the disaster area at the request of affected municipalities to survey school and social education facilities for safety.

Because of the likelihood that an increasing number of children from the disaster area would be sent to stay temporarily with relatives in other parts of Japan, prefectural boards of education throughout Japan were advised to make prompt preparations to admit transfer students and to supply textbooks free of charge. The number of children transferred to other schools reached a peak of more than 26,000 in mid-February.

Steps were also taken to assist children who had lost textbooks, stationery, and other school supplies. Essential textbooks were supplied promptly and free of charge. Children throughout Japan were encouraged through prefectural boards of education to participate in voluntary campaigns to supply school stationery and other necessities. Similar requests were made to relevant organizations.


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