The education ministry plans to strengthen support in fiscal 2025 to help municipalities improve learning environments for truant students at elementary and junior high schools.

Subsidies will be provided to cover some of the costs associated with assigning study assistants to 'school education support centers' established in vacant classrooms.

The initiative aims to create spaces for children who have difficulty enrolling in schools or attending classes, as well as to prevent truancy and help truant students return to school.

At the school education support centers, the study assistants will support students who are unable to enter regular classrooms but can still attend school.

Study assistants can also offer consultations in cooperation with school counselors.

According to the ministry, 46.1% of the public elementary and junior high schools in the nation had set up school education support centers as of July this year.

In the fiscal year starting in April 2025, the central and prefectural governments will each shoulder one-third of the costs for assigning study assistants in order to help municipalities accelerate the implementation of such support centers.

The aid is expected to go to about 3,000 schools around the country. The ministry has included necessary funding in its fiscal 2025 budget request.

People with a teaching license can serve as study assistants. In schools without such assistants, teachers and other staff can fill these roles.

As the number of truant students continues to rise, the ministry aims to secure more support personnel.