On the 20th, the government's conference aimed at materializing countermeasures against the declining birthrate held hearings from experts on the theme of improving early childhood education, etc., and opinions such as calling for the introduction of a system that guarantees the right of all children to receive childcare. It has been issued.

Prime Minister Kishida "I want to reverse the declining birthrate trend in Japan"

On the 20th, the government held the third meeting of the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, etc., in order to materialize the "countermeasures against the declining birthrate" that Prime Minister Kishida is aiming for.

At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida said, "I would like to reverse the declining birthrate trend in Japan by promoting child and child-rearing policies in which everyone participates, regardless of age or gender. We want to strengthen it,” he said.



After that, a hearing was held with experts on the themes of improving early childhood education and childcare services, as well as expanding child-rearing support at home.



Among them, Tae Amano, representative of the citizens' group "Mirai Child Care National Network", which has been working on the problem of children on waiting lists for children,


said


: We called for the prompt introduction of a system of universal childcare that guarantees the right to receive childcare.



At the next meeting, the government will hold hearings from experts on the theme of work style reforms, etc., and will put together a draft of concrete measures to deal with the declining birthrate by the end of next month.

What are the standards for placement of nursery teachers by the country?

The national standards for the placement of nursery teachers stipulate the number of nursery teachers required for each number of children.



It was established in 1948, shortly after the war, and was reviewed for some ages, but for children aged 4 and over, the standards at that time have remained unchanged for over 70 years.



The current standards are:


▽ 0-year-olds: 3 per nursery teacher


▽ 1- and 2-year-olds: 6 per child


▽ 3-year-olds: 20 per child


▽ 4- and 5-year-olds: 1 30 people per person


.

Voices calling for review from childcare sites

There are calls from nursery schools to review the current placement standards, saying that they cannot adequately respond to children.



It is a licensed nursery school in Konosu City, Saitama Prefecture.



In a 2-year-old class, 12 children are supervised by 2 nursery teachers, as is the national placement standard.



In the morning, all the 2-year-old class did a rhythm activity to move the body to the sound of the piano.



However, when some children get tired of the activity and start playing in the corner of the room, one nursery teacher runs up to them and calls out to them.



This kindergarten practices childcare that respects the child's "feelings that they want to do", but there are troubles between children in the "uncomfortable period", and in order to consider safety, the nursery teachers do not have time to breathe.



The nursery teacher in charge said, "If there was another nursery teacher, I would be able to provide childcare that is closer to the child."



Yasuo Kubota, director of "Dongurikko Nursery School", said, "Children are more diverse than they were 20 years ago, when the placement standards were last revised. It is difficult, and I would like you to reconsider. I think that if the nursery school has solid support, I will be able to give birth and raise a child with peace of mind."

Experts: “Investing in Children, Supporting Parents Seamlessly”

Regarding the government's discussion of measures against the declining birthrate, Professor Hirotomo Omeikuta of Tamagawa University, who is familiar with childcare and child-rearing support issues, said, "If children and those who raise children are not properly supported, there is a sense of security and hope for child-rearing. In order to change this mindset, we need to invest in children, especially support that reaches the parents who are directly involved with their children, from before and after childbirth. It's important to go seamlessly," he said.



On top of that, regarding the fact that there are calls for a ``review of the placement standards'' from the childcare field, he said, ``The current placement standards have not been reviewed since the war, and even from a global perspective, the burden is clearly heavy. If the government invests in this and creates a system that makes it easier for nursery teachers to work, it will be an investment in children and a positive for society as a whole."



In addition, regarding the expansion of support called 'accompaniment type', such as the development of a consistent consultation system from pregnancy to childbirth, There are many places where you can feel free to consult, and if you have someone who can think with you, you can support them. It will be a plus. In order to increase the number of people who understand this in society, the government should invest the money it should spend to build a system."

Support group “Develop a system that allows consultation”

Regarding measures to counter the declining birthrate, which the government is discussing, a support group working to prevent mothers from being isolated has called for the development of a counseling system, stating, "It is necessary to develop places and contact points throughout the country where people can consult when they are in trouble." I'm raising my voice.



The NPO Parenting Palette, a support group based in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, aims to support mothers who feel isolated and lonely by creating a place where they can feel free to talk about their worries, and offering consultations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year using LINE. In addition to providing support, we are also working on postpartum care projects, etc., under consignment from the ward.



According to the organization, many mothers who receive support, such as using the base in Adachi Ward for consultation, complain of the heavy mental burden rather than the economic problem. That's it.



A 36-year-old woman who said that consulting with her helped her become more positive about child-rearing said, ``I felt depressed for a while and was afraid to even touch my child, but after visiting here, I was able to openly vent my painful feelings and feel lonely. I was able to reduce my feelings and regain my energy," he said.



Risa Miura, the representative director of the organization, said, "We are very grateful for the financial support, but apart from that, what mothers want is a place where they can raise their voices and be accepted when they are in trouble. They can consult anytime, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I think that mothers will be able to give birth and raise their children with peace of mind if there are centers and counters all over the country where they can go there if they become pregnant."