Japan school absenteeism hits record 340,000 in FY 2023, up 11th yr

A record 346,482 elementary and junior high school students across Japan were absent for 30 days or more in the 2023 academic year, marking the 11th consecutive year of increase, according to a recent education ministry survey.The figure for the year ended March 2024 represents a 15.9 percent increase from the previous school year, accounting for 3.7 percent of all students, or roughly 1.5 students per 40-student class, according to the survey.The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology attributes the increase to more parents choosing not to force their children to at…READ FULL ARTICLE