Scholarship grants and loans provided by regional bodies, schools, foundations and other entities fell 25 percent between fiscal 1995 and 1999, according to a recent education ministry survey.

A survey released last week by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry shows that the overall amount of scholarships extended in fiscal 1999 came in at 63.46 billion yen, marking a 25 percent decrease from the fiscal 1995 figure.

With many households suffering financially in a climate of corporate bankruptcies and restructuring, the figures apparently deal a blow to many students searching for a last-ditch means of continuing their education.

The ministry said the nation's economic decline is forcing many groups to minimize or end their scholarship grant programs.

According to the survey, 3,392 groups provided scholarships in fiscal 1999, down 33 percent from fiscal 1995.

Some 36 percent of this aid was provided by schools, while public corporations and local governments each donated 30 percent. The remainder was provided by a variety of entities, including corporations, the survey shows.

The number of grant recipients dropped 22 percent to some 239,000, according to the survey. High school students accounted for 47 percent of this figure, university students 33 percent and vocational students 6 percent.

The average individual monthly scholarship totaled around 22,000 yen, down 1,080 yen from fiscal 1995, the survey shows.

The survey excluded the state-sponsored Japan Scholarship Foundation and scholarship programs involving state subsidies.