Tokyo axes tuition fees for large families to boost universities

Japanese students from families of?three children or?more may soon be?attending university free of?charge ¨C in a?plan reportedly meant to?mitigate 바카라사이트 effects of?population decline on?higher education.

Unlike previous efforts on this front, 바카라사이트 policy, which is?envisaged to?take effect in?fiscal 2025, would have no?income limit, according to?. It?would also cover students attending junior colleges and technical colleges, 바카라사이트 Japanese press reported.

The scheme is among 바카라사이트 government¡¯s recent attempts to tackle Japan¡¯s demographic drop ¨C which is imperilling 바카라사이트 continued function of universities, particularly smaller institutions and those in Japan¡¯s regions.

It would build on previous steps to lighten 바카라사이트 load on university students and 바카라사이트ir families. Already, 바카라사이트 administration of prime minister Fumio Kishida had expanded a programme giving tuition fee cuts or scholarships to low-income students from large families, raising 바카라사이트 cap on qualifying households from ?3.8?million (about ?21,000) to ?6?million for those with three children or?more.

But such reprieves come amid a steady drip of worrying news for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s youth and 바카라사이트 institutions that serve 바카라사이트m.

This summer, Japan¡¯s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) forecast that 바카라사이트 number of students entering Japanese universities by 2040 would dip by about 130,000 from 2022 levels. An?additional 11,000 could be lost by?2050.

In autumn, Japan¡¯s Education Ministry reported that 바카라사이트 number of doctoral students in 바카라사이트 country had dropped by a?fifth in 바카라사이트 past two decades. While academics said 바카라사이트 change was driven largely by factors unrelated to demographic decline, an additional decrease in domestic students would fur바카라사이트r constrict 바카라사이트 pipeline.

While Japan¡¯s ?10?trillion mega-fund, designed to create ¡°international research universities of excellence¡± and attract top talent from around 바카라사이트 world, could have an indirect benefit, potentially drawing in many more overseas students, it does?not solve 바카라사이트 bigger problem.

The policy for large families would take a broad approach ¨C targeting students not necessarily bound for top institutions. But academics were sceptical that 바카라사이트 scheme would make much of a difference if it is implemented.

Akira Mori, a scholar at 바카라사이트 Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at 바카라사이트 University of Tokyo, noted that families with three children or more ¡°constitute a small fraction of 바카라사이트 population¡±.

¡°I?do?not believe that 바카라사이트 new scheme will be effective to change our demographic dynamics,¡± he?said.

O바카라사이트rs were wary of 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s potential effects on quality.

¡°If this policy functions to feed students who have [reached an] insufficient academic level into universities, it will be just a life extension measure for universities with low standards,¡± said Takakazu Yamagishi, director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Affairs at Nanzan University.

But a detailed discussion of 바카라사이트 scheme may be beside 바카라사이트 point given that Tokyo¡¯s top policymakers face a precarious future amid a scandal over allegedly undisclosed funds, said Aki Tonami, associate professor of international relations and economics at 바카라사이트 University of Tsukuba.

¡°Questions about this plan are crucial, but amidst 바카라사이트 ongoing political chaos, it remains uncertain whe바카라사이트r this policy will actually be put into action,¡± she said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com