Learning Together: Common questions about school in Japan for kids with foreign roots

Q: How many foreign children are not enrolled in school?

A: A government survey found as of May 2022, that 8,183 out of 136,923 foreign children of compulsory school age listed on resident registers were likely not attending school. Officials found some were unable to access schools, while regular attendance in other cases couldn't be confirmed.

The education ministry says local authorities are gathering more details on the situation.

Q: Can foreign children attend school in Japan?

A: The Japanese government guarantees foreign children the same opportunities in education as Japanese nationals. The education ministry says foreign children may also attend elementary or junior high schools free of charge.

At the same time, the ministry notes foreign nationals are not legally obliged to send their children to school. This is in contrast with Japanese citizens, who are obliged by the Constitution to ensure all children under their guardianship receive a school education. Researchers exploring the issue are voicing concern that unless parents or guardians take the necessary steps to enroll their children, their kids will be left out of the school system.

Q: How can foreign residents apply for school enrollment?

A: First a look at the situation for foreign nationals who are registered as residents of the municipalities where they live. The education ministry has instructed local education boards to send letters to such individuals inviting them to enroll their children in local public elementary or junior high schools.

Chiba City, for example, posts application forms to households of registered foreign nationals in September — six months before the start of the new school year in April. If you are a parent or guardian whose address is registered with the city, and you return this form with a checkmark in the box, "Wish to enroll," a notice of admission will be posted to you in January.

Next, we look at cases where no residency is registered. Local education boards say they will respond appropriately if a parent or guardian applies for school enrollment with the education board of the municipality in which they reside.

You are first expected to register as a resident at the office of your municipality, and then file a request for enrollment either with the office or the local education board. If for some reason you find it difficult to register your residency, you are still advised to consult with officials.

For instance, the education board of Tokyo's Shibuya Ward says while it is preferable that every resident registers, if this is not possible, the ward can still proceed with a school enrollment application if one can submit proof of residency, such as a property lease contract.

Q: Can children without residency status receive a school education?

A: Children without residence status are also eligible to enroll at Japanese schools.

The government said in its remarks in the Diet in 2011 that foreign children are entitled to free education just like Japanese children, if they wish to receive it. This is regardless of whether or not they are registered residents. The education boards of many local municipalities, including Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture, which has a large foreign community, say on their websites that all children are entitled to receive an education, regardless of their residence status.

The education ministry called on prefectural education boards in 2006 to adopt a flexible attitude when confirming foreign children's places of residence in procedures for their enrollment. The ministry said the boards can use not only registration certificates but other documents seen as reliable to confirm a child’s residence.

Local education boards, therefore, can conduct enrollment procedures for children who cannot prove their residence status by confirming where they live through such documents as property lease contracts.

Q: Is it mandatory for local education board officials to notify immigration authorities in the event they find foreign children without residency status?

A: The answer is no. Education board officials are allowed to make their own decisions to prioritize enabling such children to receive a school education.

It is true that public servants in Japan are obliged to report violations of the immigration control law to relevant authorities. But in remarks in the Diet and elsewhere, the Japanese government has stated that, in the exceptional cases where administrative entities cannot accomplish their duties if they report a violation, they are allowed to make their own decisions on a case-by-case basis. They may or may not report such information after weighing the protection of public interest against what may be achieved by fulfilling their official duties.

The remark may sound vague and open to interpretation, as it was recorded after delicate discussions between relevant ministries and agencies.

When NHK interviewed an education ministry official about the remark, the official explained that the top priority for education board officials is to have foreign children enroll in Japanese schools if they so wish. The official said therefore, board staff may decide not to report violations if they think doing so will prevent them from achieving their objectives.