Education in Japanbeyond the crisis of COVID-19-Leave No One BehindSeptember . 2020

Education in Japan beyond the crisis of COVID-19-Leave No One Behind-

CONTENTS
Elementary and secondary education

3

Higher education

15

Other education-related policies

21

References

25

World’s fastest supercomputer “Fugaku”

01

An example of virus droplet simulation in a classroom(By prof. Yamakawa of Kyoto Institute of Technology)

The number of cases of child infections and transmission
routes in Japan
During the period from June 1, when schools began to fully reopen, to July 31, 242 out of 12 million students in
35,874 schools were reported to have been infected.
Over half of the infection routes, 57% (137 out of 242 students), were “household transmission”, and inparticular, for elementary school students, 70% (63 out of 90 students) were infected through this route.
On the other hand, a total of 11 students overall (5%) were reported as “in-school transmission”, of which
there were 4 cases.
Transmission route determined
Students

Infected

with symptoms(*2)

Householdtransmission

In-schooltransmission

Activities,
exchanges outside
family, schoolStudents
returned fromoverseas

Transmission
route unclear

Elementary schools

90

30

33 %

63

70 %

0

0%

9

10 %

3

3%

15

17 %

Junior high schools

53

32

60 %

31

58 %

6

11 %

5

9%

2

4%

9

17 %

High schools

97

57

59 %

42

43 %

5

5%

17

18 %

1

1%

32

33 %

Schools for SNE(*)

2

1

50 %

1

50 %

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

1

50 %

242

120

50 %

137

57 %

11

5%

31

13 %

6

2%

57

24 %

Total

(*) Schools for Special Needs Education (*2) Number of “with severe symptoms” : 0
Note: Regarding compulsory education schools and secondary education schools, the school stages are divided corresponding to elementary schools and junior high schools and senior high schools.

02

Elementary
andsecondaryeducation

Approximately 98% of Japanese schools have reopened as ofJune 1, 2020. With the fight against COVID-19 turning into a
protracted battle, it will be important to ensure that students
are both as safe as possible from the infection and able to learn
in a sound, healthy way. That means taking whatever measuresnecessary to ensure children’s learning as much as possible,
without anyone being left behind.
MEXT is working to establish a consistent curricular approach andprovide financial support so that every school has the personnel
and material support to ensure effective learning.

03The basic concept behind the Comprehensive Package for
Ensuring Children's Learning
Society as a whole needs to live with COVID-19 for a long timeContinuous learning during
temporary school closures

Step-by-step approach toreopening schools where possible

Recovery of learning by
all possible means

Ensuring learning that can only be doneat schools as much as possible
through flexible countermeasures

Ensuring children’s learning as much as possible regardless of the state of COVID-19 infections
Centered on these basic concepts, MEXT will :Ⅰ. Clarify policies for organizing and implementing curricula to ensure effective learning
Ⅱ. Provide the personnel and material support necessary for ensuring children’s learning

nationwide

04

Elementary
andsecondaryeducation

Since reopening, Japanese schools have taken measures suchas staggering attendance, redesigning timetables, andshortening long vacations to provide students with access to
education while giving their full attention to preventing the
spread of COVID-19.
Schools are also supporting students' learning by offering
supplementary instruction to children who have not yet fully
retained the target content.

05

Ⅰ. Clarify policies for organizing and implementing

curricula to ensure effective learning

Basic policy, when required, for revising the curricula formulated at the
beginning of academic year 2020* due to the impact of COVID-19*An academic year runs from April to March in Japan◆ Recover learning at school by setting special attendance days and/or staggered attendanceschedules, redesigning timetables, reviewing the length of long vacations, having school on
Saturdays, as well as prioritizing school events and shortening their preparation time, etc.

◆ Special measures can be taken when it is still difficult to complete the curricula as scheduled, even
if the measures above are taken:(1) Moving some learning content from this year to 1 or 2 years into the future(2) Prioritizing learning activities during school lessons◆ Every management body should support educational activities at every school.
Prefectural boards of educations should support municipal and town boards within their region.

06

Elementary
andsecondaryeducation07

In addition, MEXT is taking the initiative to ensure thatexaminees are not disadvantaged for high school and university
entrance exams due to COVID-19-related class delays.

Ⅰ. Clarify policies for organizing and implementing

curricula to ensure effective learning

High school and university entrance exams: Measures to ensure thatexaminees are not disadvantaged for high school and university
entrance exams* Entrance exams are mainly held between January and March in Japan

High school entrance exams

University entrance exams◆ MEXT has requested prefectural boards of education, the test

◆ So that applicants who were not able to take qualification / proficiency

implementers of entrance exams, to give special consideration for FY

tests or participate in special events will not be disadvantaged in the2021 high school entrance exams.

selection process, MEXT has requested that all universities develop
special measures, such as an evaluation of the process of the◆ For example, for admissions to high schools, in cases wherea student's performance record in club activities and other special

applicants’ efforts to achieve results, individual online interviews,
and so on.

events is used for evaluation but the events were cancelled or
postponed, evaluations can be based on the student's performance◆ MEXT has also requested the National Association of Upper Secondary

in other activities. Care should also be taken to ensure that students

School Principals to conduct a questionnaire survey on the entrance

are not disadvantaged because their school records show fewer

examination schedule including the general entrance examination,

attendance days or there are fewer descriptions of learning

the scope of the examination questions, as well as ensuringassessments. Moreover, based on the learning situation in that

adequate opportunities for students to take examinations byregion, necessary measures can be taken regarding the scope,holding additional exams. MEXT held discussions with related highcontent, and type of entrance exam questions.

school and university representatives based on the results of thesurvey, and then drew up and announced Guidelines for the
Selection of University Applicants in mid-June.

08

Elementary
andsecondaryeducation

To provide schools across the country with the necessary
human and material resources for ensuring effective learning,
MEXT has assigned large numbers of additional teachers,
school support staff, and more. MEXT is also providing all
elementary, junior high, and high schools nationwide withfunding to support reopening in order to take quick, flexible
countermeasures against COVID-19 and ensure quality
learning.

09

Ⅱ. Provide the personnel and material support

necessary for ensuring children’s learning nationwide

MEXT is taking the initiative for the large-scale assignment of additional teachers and instructors and forproviding funds to all elementary, junior high, and high schools to support the reopening of schools.
In this way, ensuring both learning and taking quick, flexible countermeasures against COVID-19.
Schools staggering attendance by dividing classes

Additional
teachers

Instructors

Other cases

Employ retired teachers, cram school
teachers, university students, educationrelated NPO staff, community personnel

Depending on the COVID-19 situation in the region,
assign additional teachers to make smaller groups of
final-year students and to ensure enough class time.
Depending on the COVID-19 situation in the region, assign additional instructors toassist classroom teachers and to assure detailed instruction.

Personnel

2-3 per school

1-2 per school

Schoolsupport staff

Depending on the COVID-19 situation in the region, assign 1 staff member to schools
with no school support staff in order to support the preparation of lessons, contact
with parents, and support tasks related to health management, etc.

SC
SSW※

Depending on the situation and necessity in each school, assign additional
school counselors (SC) and school social workers (SSW) to provide mental
healthcare to students.

Materials

Support to cover expenses forpromptly and flexibly carrying
out necessary efforts forcombatting COVID-19 andensuring learning based on thedecision of principals.

Securing HR◆ MEXT’s program Human Resources
Bank for Supporting Schools & Children◆ Making student practice teaching flexible◆ Ease qualification requirements for
instructors,as well as recognize
temporary and special licenses

Combatting
COVID-19◆ Disinfectants◆ Noncontact thermometers◆ Ventilation equipment◆ Heat stroke prevention for lunch cooks

Ensuring
learning◆ Learning materials◆ Equipment to utilize empty classrooms◆ More telephones, school cellphones, etc.

※ Nurses will be assigned to schools where students needing medicalcare are enrolled, depending on the COVID-19 situation and after
consulting with school doctors.

Estimated support ※Elementary / junior high schools
Small

MediumLarge

High schools
Special needs

1million yen

1.5million yen

2million yen

3million yen※ Current estimate, not finalized.

10

Elementary
andsecondaryeducation

Under the GIGA School Program, MEXT is also accelerating the
preparation of hardware, software, and personnel in an
integrated way to realize “one computer per student” at theearliest possible time, as well as to establish communication
environments that connect to students’ homes.
Through these measures, MEXT will ensure that all childen canlearn via ICT even in emergency situations such as temporary
school closures due to natural disasters or infectious diseases.

11

Ⅱ. Provide the personnel and material support

necessary for ensuring children’s learning nationwide

Preparing environment for home study using ICT (computers)
To ensure learning by accelerating the GIGA* School Program
MEXT has started the GIGA School

In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, integrated

Through these initiatives, it is ensured

Program to make certain of equitablepreparation of hardware, software, andthat all children can learn by using ICT

and individually optimized learning bypersonnel under the GIGA School Program will

even in emergency situations, suchproviding one computer per student

be accelerated and strengthened. The aim is

as temporary school closures due toand high-speed Internet for schools.

the early realization of one computer per

natural disasters or infectious diseases.

*GIGA : Global and Innovative Gateway for All

student as well as to prepare an ICT
environment even at the students’ homes.

FY 2019 supplementary budget: 231.8 billion yen

FY 2020 supplementary budget: 229.2 billion yen

Computers, LTE mobile routers, distance learning equipment, etc.
◆ MEXT is aiming to provide an environment that allows every child to◆ In addition, specific focus will be given to make sure, at the earliest

study online at home without any delay through measures such as

possible time, that an ICT environment is provided for final-grade

contacting suppliers after grasping demand nationwide and having

students* and for families unable to prepare an ICT environment

specialists give advice directly to local governments, etc.

due to financial difficulties.
*sixth graders in elementary school and third year students in junior high school

Communication costs for families◆ To support home learning for low-income households, special
additional payments will be made to help cover communication costs
using existing subsidy programs.
12

Elementary
andsecondaryeducation

In addition, MEXT is extending the validity period for teacher'slicenses, thereby allowing a grace period for attending
license-renewal training,and suspending certain school surveys
and commissioned projects to focus environmental
improvements on ensuring effective learning.
MEXT is also offering learning-support videos on the one-stopChildren Learning Support Website and creating learningmaterials to help students retain what they learn.

13

Ⅱ. Provide the personnel and material support necessaryfor ensuring children’s learning nationwide

Enabling teachers to focus on“ensuring learning”

Creating learning materials forbetter retention of learning content◆ Notification that the valid period for teacher’s licenses will be◆ Creation of materials to enable sixth grade elementary

extended, allowing a grace period for taking license renewal

school students and third year junior high school

training.

students to review what they learned from the first◆ Partial cancelation of this year’s surveys for schools andsemester.

commissioned projects by MEXT.

Providing convenient listing of
educational videos on MEXT’s
Children Learning Support Website◆ Information on educational videos produced by boards ofeducation, educational programs produced by NHK and theOpen University of Japan, etc. have been organized and areprovided on the Children Learning Support Website.

Building ICT systems for education
for the full exploitation of ICT◆ Building an ICT system for education to enable the complete
use of ICT by developing and verifying prototypes for online
learning systems that will ensure learning as well as
standardizing educational data including the codification of
the National Curriculum Standards.

14

As of July 1, all universities have started their spring classes,
and around 90 percent of universities are now conducting

Higher education

distance learning classes in some form or other.
MEXT has allocated 95 million US$ in the government's
supplementary budget for support in preparing an IT
environment that will enable universities to set up a system andequipment for conducting distance learning classes and toprovide advanced education using digital technology.
Moreover, currently no more than 60 credits out of all credits
for graduation can be acquired through online classes.
Therefore, MEXT widely publicized to universities that this cap
on credits was not applied, as an exception.

15

Ⅰ. Start of classes and promoting the use of distance learning
2. Distance learning classes ( as of July 1)

1. Start of classes (spring semester)・ Around 90% of universities have postponed the start ofregular classes.

・As of July 1, all universities have started their spring semesterclasses.

・Almost all universities that have not postponed classes will use

・83.8% of universities offering classes are conducting distancelearning classes in some way.

or are considering distance learning classes.
Postponed
start of classes

Start classes as usual
Will use orconsidering
distance learningclasses

Considering other
COVID-19 prevention
measuresIn-personclasses

Combination of
in-person anddistance
learning classes

Distance
learningclassesNational univ.

90.7 %

9.3 %-National univ.

1.2 %64.0 %

34.9 %

Public univ.

82.9 %

13.3 %-

Public univ.

7.8 %

70.6 %

21.6 %

Private univ.

87.0 %

10.5 %

0.1 %Private univ.

17.6 %

59.7 %

22.7 %

Colleges oftechnology

87.0 %

12.3 %-

Colleges oftechnology

33.3 %

40.4 %

26.3 %

10.7 %

0.1 %（Overall）（Overall）

86.9 %（930 schools）（115 schools）（1school）* The response rate was around 97.8%, so the totals in the table do not add up to 100%. Universities that
postponed the start of classes include those that will conduct distance learning classes.

16.2 %（173 schools）

60.1 %（642 schools）

23.8 %（254 schools）* The population is the number of universities (1,069) responding that they are conducting classes as of July 1.

・ Following allocations in supplementary budget

Main MEXT
initiatives

Ensuring learning opportunities by accelerating setting up environment for distancelearning classes at universities ( 95 million US$ )* Includes university equipment (cameras, audio equipment, etc.), internet-enabled devices for students, etc.

・ The rule on the limit of the number of credits for distance education was exempted .

16

International student exchanges have also been significantly
impacted.

Higher education
MEXT is dealing flexibly with the situation for the international
students that were originally scheduled to come to Japan in thespring under the Japanese government’s scholarship program. In acase where a student's arrival in Japan is delayed from the originalschedule or the scholarship period has been changed to the autumn,
students will still be able to receive their scholarship payments.
For Japanese government scholarships for overseas study,
MEXT has made the payment of scholarships flexible so thatstudents who have difficulty temporarily returning to Japan orstudents who are continuing to study after the temporary returnto Japan can continue to receive scholarship payments.

17

Ⅱ. International student exchanges and scholarships
1 . Acceptance of international students

2. Overseas study for Japanese students

・ Almost none of the new international students scheduled to・Sending new students with government scholarships has been・ Some students who have completed their academic courses are

・Government has requested that students cancel or postpone privately

come to Japan in the spring have arrived in Japan.

unable to return to their countries.

1

temporarily suspended.

financed overseas study.

Main MEXT initiatives

Main MEXT initiatives

For international students scheduled tocome to Japan

Flexible payment of overseas study government
scholarships depending on the situation of the overseas

Flexible responses under the government’s scholarshipprograms so that they can receive scholarship payment in

student*Scholarship payments continued for students who have difficulty returning temporarily to Japanand to students who have temporarily returned to Japan and are continuing their studies.

cases where:- arrival in Japan is delayed from the original date- scholarship period is changed to the autumn, etc.

International students currently
2
enrolled in Japan
Special measures for receiving monthly scholarshippayments

Consideration for study, course registration, etc.
・MEXT requested universities to- consider necessary measures, such as supplementary lectures,
extending registration period,- avoid disadvantaging students by consulting with partner universities
regarding various conditions, including acquiring credits.

18

Due to the spread of COVID-19, some students are facing
difficulties continuing their studies at universities and other

Higher education

institutions due to heavily reduced household incomes as well as
less income from part-time jobs. In response, MEXT establishedthe emergency student financial support program to provide
cash handouts to these students so that they will not have toabandon their studies. About 430,000 students, includinginternational students, will be targeted for this program.
In addition, MEXT is allocating 150 million US$ in the
supplementary budget for support to students whose
household finances have drastically changed, making themeligible for the tuition exemptions that some individual
universities are providing.

19Ⅲ. Financial support for students adversely affected
Emergency student financial support for continuing their studies (Budget : about 500 million US$)With students experiencing a significant economic impact on theirlifestyles due to heavy reductions in household income and income frompart-time jobs, the program will provide those who face difficulties
continuing their studies with a cash handout so that they do not abandon
their studies.

◇ Eligibility: Students attending universities (including graduate schools),
junior colleges, colleges of technology, vocational schools, etc. in Japan,
including international students◇ Cash handout amount: Students exempt from residence tax: 1,900 US$,other students: 950 US$◇ Estimated number of eligible students: About 430,000

New learning support system and scholarship loans

Special emergency scholarship loans

Measures for households experiencing sudden changes

With students experiencing a significant economic impact due to reducedin finances

income from part-time job, the program will provide interest-freescholarships.

・accepting applications at any time・flexible assessment of family income

Learning support system
for higher education

Learning support at individual universities
Scholarship loans
As in the past, support targets

Postponement of tuition payments
MEXT is requesting all universities to flexibly handle the payment period
for tuitions and other fees for students in financial difficulty.

Expansion of system operation.

students in urgent financial

Scholarship benefits can beneed due to a sudden change

provided from the month thein household finances.

Support for the exemption from tuition and other payments
by individual universities

application is made.

( Applications accepted at any

As an emergency financial measure, MEXT allocates necessary funds totime.)

universities to support the financial burden of tuition exemptions.
In the supplementary budget, national universities will receive
46 million US$ and private universities 92 million US$.
20

In the post-COVID-19 world, it will be more important thanOther
education-related
policies

21

ever for countries to cooperate in enhancing public healtheducation and online learning. MEXT has been working onth e E DU-Por t Ja pan Pro j ect to share J apanese-styl e
education techniques with people overseas since 2016.

EDU-Port Japan Project
FY 2020 budget: 72 million yen

Background/overview◆ In the field of education, Japan has a lot of potential to contribute to the world.

◆ Japanese-style education draws international interest due to its unique approaches◇ Elementary and junior high school education centers on cultivating a well-balanced solid academic ability,rich humanity, and healthy body.

◇ Colleges of technology, KOSEN, develop engineers so they will have practical and sophisticated skills.

◆ Collaborating with relevant organizations, MEXT builds a public-private collaboration platform as well as supports
pilot projects that promote Japanese-style education across borders.

Past efforts
Conducting the five years
from 2016 to 202036
countries

more than60

pilot projects

Total number of participants

Total number of participantsfrom Japan

from partner countries

approx.

15,000approx.

62,000◆ Worked on collaborative projects in a variety of areas,
including public health, ICT education, early childhood
education, music, physical education, teacher training, andhuman resource development in science and technology◆ Held symposia and other events to share findings andinsights from the project with Japanese audiences

MEXT will promote initiatives to shareexpertise and findings on educational
issues affecting the world both during
and after the COVID-19 crisis witheducators across the globe.

22

MEXT has been promoting Education for Sustainable

Other
education-related
policies

Development (ESD), a global, UNESCO-led initiative, since
before the COVID-19 outbreak.
For a more sustainable society, ESD aims to develop students’values and behavior, helping them to solve various issues.
In a world that will need to keep dealing with COVID-19 for theforeseeable future, the importance of initiatives such as ESD isgrowing more and more apparent.

23

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) contributing
to achievement of SDGs
What is ESD?
◆ ESD is education that develops students’◆ ESD engages students in an interdisciplinary,autonomous ability to see global issues impacting

holistic way in individual areas, such as

modern society as their own issues and to think ofinternational understanding, the environment,

solutions by themselves with the aim of fostering

cultural diversity, human rights, and peace frombuilders of a sustainable society. ESD develops

the perspective of sustainable development.

students’ capability to act and brings about atransformation in their values and behavior.

ESD contributes to achieving all the 17 SDGs by fostering builders of a sustainable society.

24References

MEXT FY 2020 First Supplementary Budget : 276.3 billion yen(approved by the Diet on April 30, 2020)

Support for reopening schools
Coronavirus countermeasures at schools

13.7

Improvement of hygienic environment at schools, etc.
(restrooms, school lunch facilities, etc.)

10.6

Placement of lecturers and tutors

800

Support for experiential activities for children(nature, sports, culture)
Support for cancellation fees, etc. arising fromcancellation or postponement of school excursions
Support for students whose household finances
dramatically changed
Smooth conducting of Examination for Japanese
University Admission for International Students

billion yen

billion yen

million yen

2.1

billion yen

600
700
100

Support for purchasing of masks and disinfectants needed for thoroughconducting of basic coronavirus countermeasures at schools.
Improvement of hygienic environment of school facilities, including maintaining
restrooms, school lunch facilities, etc. as well as preparing and maintaining
ventilation fans in gymnasiums and sports facilities, with the aim of preventing the
spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
Additional placement of lecturers and tutors to support students' supplementary learningin order to complete unfinished parts of the curriculum at the end of the school year.
Creation of opportunities for nature-experience and sports activities as well as
enhancement of opportunities to experience cultural arts activities that had been
lost due to the spread of COVID-19.

million yen

Provision of financial support to lessen the financial burden on parents forcancellation fees, etc. due to canceled or postponed school excursions.

million yen

Support for waiving tuitions and other fees for students whose household financeschanged significantly due to the impact of COVID-19.

million yen

Support to cover necessary expenses for anti-coronavirus measures so that the Examination
for Japanese University Admission for International Students (taken by most persons whowant to enter a Japanese university as an international student) can be held without delay.

Ensuring Learning for students during school closures
Ensuring learning through the acceleration of
the GIGA School Program
Ensuring learning opportunities at universities
through the accelerated building of environments
for distance learning classes

25

229 .2
2.7

billion yen

billion yen

Through the acceleration of the integrated preparation of hardware, software, andhuman resources under the GIGA School Program, which calls for the prompt
provision of "one computer per student" and the preparation of communications
environments that connect even to students' homes, MEXT will support the prompt
realization of an environment that ensures learning for all children through using ICT.
MEXT will promote the preparation of environments enabling all universities,
technical colleges, and specialized training colleges to prepare the facilities andsystems for distance learning classes and provide advanced education using
digital technology.

Support for coronavirus research, and university hospitals
Acceleration of R&D for finding countermeasures
to the novel coronavirus

6.4

Preparation of systems at university hospitals for
accepting COVID-19 patients

2.5

Using national youth education facilities tocombat COVID-19

1.2

billion yen

MEXT will support strengthening the research foundation at universities and otherinstitutions that are contributing to the development of treatment drugs and vaccines
and the establishment of new testing methods and for the development of rapid
COVID-19 testing systems.

billion yen

To overcome COVID-19, which is still not completely understood, MEXT will support
providing and maintaining medical equipment at university hospitals as well as thetraining of needed advanced medical personnel.

billion yen

To receive Japanese students returning from overseas, MEXT will support the
preparation of hygienic environments at existing accommodations at convenient andlarge facilities owned by the National Institution for Youth Education.

Support for sports and cultural arts activities
Coronavirus countermeasures at the Japan High
Performance Sport Center

Support for holding events to recover interest inand enthusiasm for sports and cultural arts

200

million yen

2.2

Improvement to viewing environments by using
cutting-edge technology and strengthening
the earning capacity of cultural facilities

1.4

Support for COVID-19 countermeasures
for the reopening cultural facilities

2.1

MEXT will support the installation of ventilating equipment to prevent the spread of
COVID-19 at the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences in the run-up to the Tokyo 2020
Olympics and Paralympics.

billion yen

MEXT will promote the smooth and full-fledged resumption of sports events
through its support for COVID-19 countermeasures and publicity activities toattract spectators. MEXT will also support cultural organizations and freelance
artists in holding lectures, exhibits and exhibitions, etc. in order to heighten
interest in culture and the arts.

billion yen

MEXT will promote the independent operation of cultural facilities by supporting thecreation of new appreciation and viewing models―taking advantage of the special
characteristics of each genre in the performing arts―and the development ofmodel projects such as exhibitions that use high-definition visual contents.

billion yen

MEXT will fund coronavirus countermeasures at cultural facilities, the preparationof the correct environment for the restarting performances, etc., and theintroduction of a time-reserved visitor system to minimize the risk of infection.

26

MEXT FY 2020 Second Supplementary Budget : 161.7 billion yen(approved by the Diet on June 12, 2020)

Support for students, artists, athletes, etc., in difficult circumstances
Support for financially distressed students

15.3

billion yen

MEXT will subsidize the costs incurred by universities in implementing measures for
reducing tuition and other costs to ensure that students in financial need will not have toabandon their studies due to financial reasons as a result of the spread of COVID-19.

Emergency comprehensive support for cultural arts and sports activities◇ Support for continuing cultural arts andsports activities◇ Project to strengthen the earning capacityof cultural arts

◇ Support for the resumption of sports events

50.9
5
2

billion yen

billion yen

billion yen

58billion yen

MEXT will fund necessary expenses for cultural arts and sports organizations and others,
including freelancers that were forced to cancel their activities, so that they can actively
undertake efforts to continue their activities, including stepped-up anti-coronavirus measures.
This project promotes the drastic reform of the earning structure of cultural arts
organizations through initiatives for securing and strengthening the earning capacity ofthese organizations by establishing new ways to attract viewers and so on that leverage thespecial characteristics of each genre in the performing arts.
To promote the smooth and full-fledged resumption of sports events, MEXT will support
measures that prevent the spread of COVID-19 at national sports events, as well as
publicizing events to attract spectators, securing sports venues, etc., and support theholding of regional alternative events for national school sports club events.

Support for universities and researchers, strengthening the research foundation
Interest grants for short-term borrowing
by national universities
Support for the resumption and continuation ofresearch by improving research environments

Use of PCR equipment at research facilities

27

300
3
500

million yen

billion yen

million yen

MEXT will support national universities with attached hospitals that are accepting seriously
ill COVID-19 patients in their financing efforts by subsidizing their interest payments on
short-term borrowing from private-sector financial institutions.
MEXT will support the improvement of research facilities to enable automation or remoteuse so that doctoral students and other researchers can promptly resume and continue
their research activities.
MEXT will provide support to universities and other institutions that are cooperating on
testing to expand the testing system for COVID-19 by helping to cover new expenses
arising from changes in research plans due to their cooperation or expenses for initialinvestments in setting up a testing system within the university.

Ensuring learning for primary/secondary and post-secondary students
Ensuring learning for primary/secondary students during temporary school closures◇ Securing necessary personnel to ensure
learning

31.8◇ Support for resuming school education
activities

40.5◇ Support for buying masks and othercoronavirus countermeasures at kindergartens◇ Increasing support for coronavirus
countermeasures on school buses for
special needs education schools◇ Project for upgrading educational environmentof overseas Japanese schools

3
1.6
500

billion yen

77.4

billion yen

In anticipation of prolonged school closures or phased school re-openings, MEXT will
support the employment of a wide range of personnel, including retired teachers anduniversity students, beginning with students in teaching courses, as well as theirurgent placement to support regular faculty in order to ensure to the greatest extent
possible that no child is left behind in his/her learning.

billion yen

To support schools to implement new ways necessary for combatting COVID-19 atschools and ensuring students' learning, MEXT will provide schools with financial
support to carry out these measures quickly and flexibly.

billion yen

MEXT will provide funds for buying masks, disinfectants, etc. as well as cover
increasing expenses arising from work required for thoroughly carrying out
coronavirus countermeasures in order to strengthen the measures at kindergartensfor stopping the spread of COVID-19.

billion yen

To ensure a safe and secure school commuting environment for children withdisabilities, MEXT will fund efforts for minimizing infection risks on school buses for
special needs education schools.

million yen

To ensure the learning of students at Japanese schools overseas, MEXT will support
providing one computer for each student and each teacher as well as projects fortesting and validating the educational systems using ICT.

7.3

Accelerating the setting up of distance learning classes at universities, colleges of technology, specialized training colleges
MEXT will promote the preparation of environments enabling all universities, colleges of technology, and specialized
training colleges with new needs brought on by the prolongation of the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare the facilities
and systems for distance learning classes and to provide advanced education using digital technology.

10billion yen, including

billion yen

2.7

billion yen allocatedin the MEXT FY 2020 First Supplementary Budget28

Transformation of learning brought about by“one computer per student” and high-speed networks
GIGA School
Program◆ Realize an educational ICT environment optimized
for each child, including those with special needs,
and ensure further development of their abilities.

Past Practices

Further enrichment of learning activities/improved lessons
from the perspective of proactive, interactive and authentic learning

ICT

Before “ 1 computer per student ”
GroupLearning

・Teachers can motivate children by using electronic
blackboards, etc.

◆ Maximize the power of teachers and students
through the best mix of past educational practices
and cutting-edge ICT technology.

With “ 1 computer per student ”
DeepenLearning

・Teachers can understand each student's reaction in class.
→ Enables teachers to provide interactive lessons with detailed guidance
based on the reactions of each student.

Convert
Learning

・Each student can learn different content at the same time.
・Each student’s study log is automatically recorded.
→ Enables individualized learning and instruction based oneach student’s educational needs and understanding.

Convert
Learning・Every student can collect information from their own perspective.
・Students can share thoughts immediately and edit collaboratively.
→ All students have immediate exposure to various opinions,while allowing for editing the information.

??
・All students learn the samecontent at the same time.
?
(Learning based on the level ofindividual understanding is difficult.)

Joint
Learning

・Group presentations can bemade, but it‘s hard for quieter
students to voice their unique
opinions.

?

Personal
Learning

Examples of learningthat can be enrichedthrough “one computer
per student”

29□ Investigative Learning□ Expression and Production□ Learning at a Distance□ Information Morality Learning

share

Collecting and analyzing various information proactively, depending on the purpose.
Writing long texts while polishing / Producing various works using several materials.
Collaboration with universities, overseas countries, experts / Opportunities for children in underpopulated areas or in hospitals.
Using various information that contains several cases illustrating truths and falsehoods.

461billion Japanese yen

Realization of

GIGA School Program(Administered by MEXT)

FY 2019 Supplementary Budget
231.8 billion
FY 2020 First Supplementary Budget 229.2 billion

GIGA School Program ensures “one computer per student with a high-speed networks in schools,”
bringing optimized and creative learning to all students, who will later live in Society 5.0
Educationandnew eraschools□ Removing constraints such as time and distance□ Optimized and effective learning and support□ Cultivating creativity through project-based learning

Learning environment at home for emergency

Supporting for maintaining computers for students◇ Realizing “1 computer per student”

297.3 billion yen

Supporting computer maintenance for students at the compulsory education level.

FY 2019 Supplementary Budget
102.2 billion
FY 2020 First Supplementary Budget 195.1 billion◇ Assistive computers for disabled students
Supporting provision of input/output assistive computers forchildren with visual, auditory, and physical disabilities.

1.1 billion yen◇ Devices for learning at home
Supporting the lending of LTE communications equipment (mobilerouters) by local governments to households that do not have Wi-Fi.

14.7 billion yen◇ Distance learning capabilities of schools
Supporting the installation of communication devices such as
cameras and microphones to schools (including high schools).

◇ Online system for ensuring learning
Research to introduce a platform for learning andassessment at school and at home using ICT.

Developing a school-wide network environment
Support for maintaining the school LAN environment andpower supply cabinets (including high schools).

□ Improving efficiency in school operations□ Sharing and creation of teachers’ empiricalknowledge with scientific perspective

136.7 billion yen

0.6 billion yen
0.1 billion yen

cloud

FY 2019 Supplementary Budget
129.6 billion
FY 2020 First Supplementary Budget
7.1 billion
high speed
high capacity
confidential
inexpensive networks

Placing GIGA school supporters
Supporting the placement of local governments’ ICT
engineers to promote ICT in schools (including high schools).

10.5 billion yen

FY 2020 First Supplementary Budget

10.5 billion

1 computer per student

at home30

MEXT website (English)

MEXT Twitter (Japanese)

MEXT Facebook (Japanese)

https://www.mext.go.jp/en/index.htm

https://twitter.com/mextjapan

https://www.facebook.com/mextjapan/

Special MEXT website
covering the COVID-19 crisis(Japanese)

Infection Control Manuals
and Guidelines For Schools(Japanese)

https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/
coronavirus/index.html

https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/
coronavirus/mext_00029.html

Children Learning Support
Website (Japanese)
https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/ikusei/
gakusyushien/index_00001.htm

COVID-19 cases at elementary and junior andsenior high schools and the countermeasures
based on the data (English)

What is Japanese-style
Education? (available in
8 languages)

https://www.mext.go.jp/en/content/20200821-mxt_
kouhou01-000005414_1.pdf

https://www.eduport.mext.go.jp/
en/html/introduction.html

Measures against COVID-19 in schools inJapan (Portuguese)

More about the Fugaku
supercomputer (English)

https://youtu.be/5OuTl7u_rGA

https://www.r-ccs.riken.jp/en/