The prolonged economic slump has extended into the nation's classrooms, with around 1.15 million public elementary and junior high school students qualifying for financial aid in fiscal 2002.

The parents or guardians of 10.78 percent of children between the first and ninth grades received or would have qualified for welfare in the fiscal year ended March 31, up from 7.1 percent in fiscal 1998.

These children are qualified to receive financial aid from local municipalities, which is subsidized by the national government, to help them pay for school supplies, commuting, lunch expenses and excursion costs.