1. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has released "Notification of interim policy regarding decisions on whether to utilize school buildings and outdoor areas within Fukushima Prefecture" (2011 , Sports and Youth Bureau, MEXT No. 134 dated April 19, 2011). In the interim policy, MEXT has set forth that it is appropriate to minimize the exposure of pupils and children going to schools and  day-care centers (hereinafter referred to as "pupils and others") to radiation as far as possible, and that particularly outdoor activities in and outside school should be restricted as much as possible in schools where air dose rates of 3.8 μSv/h or more were measured in schoolyards or playgrounds.

2. Based on the interim policy, MEXT has implemented and strengthened various radiation monitoring surveys, and on May 11, indicated to boards of education, etc. two dose reducing methods, namely, a method to collectively place the surface soil underground and a top/bottom substitution method, with regard to the soil of schoolyards and playgrounds.

On May 17, the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters formulated  Immediate Actions for the Assistance of Nuclear Sufferers, which clearly state that prompt measures will be taken concerning the treatment of soil, etc. in educational facilities in Fukushima Prefecture as part of assistance in the field of education.

In consideration of those policies and according to the interim policy mentioned above, MEXT needs to reduce the radiation doses received by pupils and others in schools and further promote efforts aimed at building an environment where pupils and others can receive education with a greater sense of security.

3. To this end, MEXT will take the following measures in the immediate future based on the policy indicated in 1. above.

(i) Today, with the cooperation of the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education, MEXT will distribute integrating dosimeters to all schools, etc. in Fukushima Prefecture. Using these dosimeters, the actual integrated doses that pupils and others receive will be monitored.

(ii) With a basic stance to reduce the exposure of pupils and others to radiation as much as possible, using the annual dose of 1–20 mSv indicated in the interim policy as a guide level, MEXT will aim to reduce the annual dose that pupils and others receive in school to 1 mSv or less this fiscal year. MEXT will consider possibilities of additional measures, while continuing to seek the opinions of experts, etc. about the physical and mental health and development of pupils and others.

(iii) In consideration of the Immediate Actions for the Assistance of Nuclear Sufferers, and for ensuring a greater sense of security, MEXT will provide financial assistance, under the framework of the school facility disaster reconstruction project, to entities that have established the relevant schools and that will take measures to reduce the radiation doses received by pupils and others in respect to the soil of schoolyards or playgrounds, based on the results of surveys conducted by MEXT or Fukushima Prefecture. This scheme will target schools where air dose rates of 1 μSv/h or more are measured in schoolyards or playgrounds, which means that soil-related dose reduction measures would be effective, and financial assistance will be provided according to the wishes of the entities that have established the schools.