On September 20, ninety-seven 97 % of Japan’s junior colleges and universities were permitted by the nation’s education ministry to avail free education programs for students from low-income households.
The launch is set for April 2020, and one thousand and seventy-four (1,074) junior colleges and universities will offer these programs.
This number is incredible as it represents the majority of Japan’s higher institutions of learning. Nevertheless, thirty-one (31) of them did not submit their applications to the ministry for accreditation based on factors, such as financial challenges.
Japan’s junior colleges and universities certification
The education ministry asserted that out of the junior colleges and universities suitable to offer free education, one thousand and forty-three (1,043) of them had been certified.
Expressly, they comprise of two hundred and ninety-nine (299) junior colleges and seven hundred and forty-four (744) universities.
The ministry noted that all public and national universities, such as Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, were permitted eligibility. Moreover, all the fifty-seven (57) technical colleges were given a similar status.
The free education system being introduced in these institutions is meant to avert the division of educational opportunities. This is founded on the actuality that the number of people having a higher education from low-income households is considerably less.
On the other hand, it has been revealed that dental and medical universities did not apply because of the high tuition fees required by students.
The free education programs will be funded partly from the elevated consumption tax that will be effective from next month.
Nevertheless, they are deemed helpful because the ministry speculates that nearly seven hundred and fifty thousand (750,000) people will be beneficiaries.
On the other hand, the Japanese Ministry of Education has announced a new plan to help educational institutions better as more international students join all levels of schooling in the country. This will include both junior colleges and universities.
