One in five parents of out-of-school children in Japan are forced to quit their jobs: survey

TOKYO — About one in five parents whose children are out of school are forced to quit their jobs, a private study found in October.

Mood swings and other mental health problems were also found in most parents of out-of-school children. The study shows that with absenteeism rates at record highs in Japan, not only children but also their parents are facing serious challenges.

The survey was conducted by free online school operator Sozow Co., based in Tokyo’s Shinagawa district. The operator asked parents of children attending his primary and secondary school departments about changes they had experienced as a result of their child’s truancy, allowing for multiple responses. Valid responses were received from 187 parents.

The results showed that 18.7% of parents were forced to leave their jobs. Reasons included: “I had to look after my child at home during primary school” and “I wanted to accompany my child to school when attendance was possible.”

Additionally, 57.2% of respondents reported feeling depressed, and 54.5% said they felt lonely. Fifteen percent visited a psychiatrist, and 9.1% said they had had suicidal thoughts.

Associate Professor Teppei Sekimizu from Meiji Gakuin University, who advised on the survey, commented: “Since there are many cases where truancy greatly affects family life, parental support is also necessary.”

It seems that lack of information leads to stress and anxiety among parents. In the survey, 77.0% stated that they were concerned about the lack of necessary information provided by the school about counseling services and future educational paths when their children began to stop attending school.

When primary and secondary school students stop attending school, options include changing schools, attending a free school and home schooling, and teachers are required to provide appropriate guidance on the educational path. However, the education sector is under pressure.

The number of children and students out of school in primary and junior high schools has risen to around 300,000 in the 2022 school year, according to a survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. At the same time, reducing the workload of teachers is also a serious problem.

A Sozov spokesman commented: “When schools don’t provide enough information, parents feel trapped. The number of children out of school reaches an all-time high almost every year, a situation that is difficult to overcome with public support alone. “ It also notes that society as a whole needs to work to ensure that schools can seamlessly provide comprehensive guidance on the educational pathway, including guidance on private free schools.

(Japanese original by Yuta Kumamoto, Digital News Group)