c. Regulations for Students Studying Abroad and Students on Scholarships

One of the noteworthy provisions of the Education System Order dealt with students studying abroad. In consideration of the urgency of adopting Western culture at the time and the fact that a large number of students were, in consequence, being sent to study overseas, the government in the Education System Order established 31 chapters concerning foreign study (chapters number 58 to 88). According to these, all students leaving the country for study abroad were to be placed under the direct supervision of the Department of Education and classified as either government appointed or private. Those students appointed by the government were in turn to be divided into middle school graduates and university graduates. Other chapters dealt with the procedures for selection of applicants, term of study abroad, quotas, financial provisions, instructions for students going abroad and their responsibilities after returning to Japan. The supplementary regulations appended to the Education System Order on March 18, 1873, revised and enlarged upon the above stipulations and incidentally indicated the importance that the government attached to the concept of marshaling human resources for the modernization of the country. The purpose of these provisions dealing with students studying abroad was to further encourage learning and enlightenment.

The original provisions of the Education System Order regarding students on scholarships covered such matters as loan periods, compulsory public service years, repayment dates and the handling of applications. On April 17, 1873, seventeen chapters were added to the Order to further specify the handling of applications. These regulations illustrate the government's positive concern for leadership training and for providing financial assistance to deserving students who would otherwise be unable to support themselves through the educational system. On December 17, 1873, an additional revision was effected such that these student loan scholarship regulations incorporated in the Order were replaced by the separate Government Sponsored Student Regulations (Kanpisei Kisoku). This change made government subsidies applicable only to a small number of persons enrolled in a few government schools such as universities. These Regulations remained in effect till October, 1874.