Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs on Thursday urged the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and the Agency for Child and Family Affairs to take measures to support medical examinations for children refusing to attend school.
A survey published by the ministry showed that 5.7% of elementary school students and 19.9% of junior high school students refusing to attend school did not undergo all the examinations included in school medical check-ups last year.
This is the first government survey on medical check-ups for children skipping school. It covered the period from April to September last year and involved 19 elementary schools, 33 junior high schools in 30 municipalities across the country.
Among the children skipping school, only 17.8% of elementary school students and 12.2% of junior high school students completed all components of the medical check-ups. In some cases, the detection of scoliosis and kidney diseases was delayed because the children did not undergo examinations.
According to the ministry, some municipalities allow such students to undergo medical check-ups on days and times when they do not intersect with other students at school, or at local medical facilities instead of at school. In certain areas, medical monitoring is conducted through home visits in cooperation with local government social services.
The ministry has asked the three agencies to inform local authorities about such practices and support programs from the central government.
This material is prepared solely for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation.
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