The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has decided to create a new base for school counselors and others to receive online consultations next year so that children who are worried about school refusal can consult from home.
According to national statistics, the number of elementary and junior high school students who do not attend school is on the rise, and in 2020, there were more than 196,000 people nationwide, a record high.
Many children who do not go to school find it difficult to go out, so the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology calls on local governments to establish online consultation centers next fiscal year, and provides financial support. It is a policy to
We expect to have 300 offices nationwide.
School counselors and school social workers will respond to online consultations, and in addition to school refusal, bullying and abuse, as well as concerns such as young carers.
We also plan to strengthen the consultation system at schools.
Currently, the number of times of work for school counselors and others at all public elementary and junior high schools is roughly once a week, so we are planning to strengthen support by increasing subsidies to local governments.
In order to carry out these projects, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is asking for 10.1 billion yen, which is 2.4 billion yen more than this year's budget, in its budget request for the next fiscal year.