Package ofEmergency Economic Measures
MEXT
April 7, 2020

Support for the reopening of schools（※Underlined measures are included in the FY2020 supplementary budget. ）In order to converge the nation's efforts for suppressing as soon as possible the spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic, many businesses
cooperated in temporarily shutting down their operations in March. After that, however, the numbers of newly infected persons, particularly inurban areas, increased, as well as the number of infected persons whose route of infection was unclear. Depending on the situation in each region,
preparations for recovery, including the reopening of schools, need to move forward, without letting up at all in continuing precautionary measuresagainst COVID-19.
For the reopening of schools, support will be given for the purchase of masks and disinfectants that will be necessary for ensuring measuresagainst the reoccurrence of the coronavirus are thoroughly taken. Efforts will also be made to support supplementary lessons to make up for areas
not taught yet, ensure the mental health of children, and lessen the financial burden on parents and students.

Measures against COVID-19 at schools• MEXT will aim at the distribution of two cloth masks from April (one mask in April and one after May) to students and teachers at all elementary schools, juniorand senior high schools, schools for special needs education, upper secondary specialized training schools, etc. MEXT will also support school operators inpurchasing cloth masks, disinfectants, non-contact-type thermometers, and other hygiene supplies.
• Cloth masks will be distributed to kindergarten teachers, and support will be provided for purchasing children's masks, disinfectants, and other supplies forpreventing infections.
• Support will be provided for efforts by school operators to reduce the risk of infection on school buses for students of special needs education schools(reducing the number of students riding one bus, etc.).
• MEXT will revise health education texts for teachers as well as health education materials for elementary and junior and senior high schools in order to help
teachers and students cope with and follow anti-coronavirus measures.
• Schools will improve their hygienic environment, such as restrooms, etc., and prepare an environment that ensures students can study and live safely andsecurely.

Learning instruction, mental care
• MEXT will place additional instructors at schools to support instruction in curriculum areas not taught yet as a result of the temporary school closures, as wellas help cover necessary expenses for the additional assignment of teachers.
• MEXT will support the covering of necessary expenses for the additional placement of teachers and school counselors in order to provide mental health care
to children whose daily life rhythm has been disrupted by the temporary shutdowns of schools, businesses, etc.

Experiential learning activities for children• In order to rejuvenate children and ensure their healthy development, MEXT will support and enhanceoutdoor activities for children to experience nature conducted by youth education groups and others,
opportunities for children to enjoy playing sports safely and securely, and opportunities for children to
engage in high-quality cultural and art activities.

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（※Underlined measures are included in the FY2020 supplementary budget. ）Cancellation, postponement of school trips, responding to stopping of school lunches• In regards to cancellation charges arising due to the cancellation or postponement of school trips because of the temporary closing of schools, MEXT will
provide a fixed amount of necessary funds to local governments and other school operators in order to ease the financial burden on parents.
• MEXT will request school operators to refund to parents the cost for school lunches during the temporary closure period. MEXT will provide support to school
operators to cover the costs for the refunds to parents and lunch cancellation charges.

Support to students in hardship situations• MEXT will provide support to high school students whose family finances have been suddenly changed, through exemption from tuition payments and provision ofHigh School Supplemental Scholarship Fund. Additionally, the ministry has requested municipal boards of education that financial support for school attendance incompulsory education should be dealt flexibly.
• MEXT will provide support through scholarship loans, scholarships and tuition exemptions to students whose families need financial assistance due to a suddenchange in their household finances.
• The national government will provide support to enable universities and other higher educational institutions to give careful consideration, including the
postponement or exemption from payment of tuition fees, to students facing financial hardships due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis• JASSO will provide repayment assistance, including the postponement of repayment or reduction of
the repayment amount, to those facing difficulty repaying scholarship loans.

New Financial Support
System for Higher Education

Scholarship loans• MEXT will request economic organizations to provide sufficient relevant information to job-hunting
students and to prevent the withdrawal of employment offers to students scheduled to graduate,
and will ask universities and other institutions to provide support to students.

Flexible support to Japanese and international overseas students• MEXT will exercise flexibility in the handling of scholarships, etc. for Japanese overseas students for whom it is difficult to return promptly to Japan because of
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, for Japanese overseas students who continue to study online at the universities they studied at abroad after theirreturn to Japan, and for international overseas students who cannot come to Japan as scheduled to ensure that they have opportunities to learn.
• MEXT will ease the financial burden on Japanese students study abroad again.
In addition to the above measures, MEXT's "Guideline for the Reopening of Schools Closed due to the Novel Coronavirus" and its"Guideline for the Temporary Closing of Schools due to the Novel Coronavirus" are available through this QR code.
（https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/coronavirus/mext_00001.html）
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Ensuring children’s learning during the school closures
Even in emergency periods like the temporary school closings due to COVID-19, MEXT supports children's learning through a
combination of home learning including online learning and interviews with teachers to support children's learning andascertain their learning progress so as to ensure that children can continue their learning. In line with this, MEXT is rapidly
moving forward with support for preparing environments that will allow children to utilize ICT to continue to study at homeand elsewhere.
Support to prevent the interruption of children’s learning• Depending on the situation of the school and students, MEXT supports home learning, such as learning utilizing paper texts,
television broadcasts, etc., learning utilizing online materials, and learning utilizing interactive online instruction.
※ MEXT will soon announce that teachers are allowed to evaluate students‘ learning and its results the same way as in regularclasses when students who cannot attend school learn at home by utilizing ICT, such as through interactive online lessons
and learning with online materials.
✔ Learning utilizing hard copy learning materials, TV broadcasts, etc.
• For children whose families do not have Internet access, appropriate hard copy learning materials will be provided to them, and teachers will provide support
through telephone consultations, home visits, etc.
•

TV broadcasts will be utilized, such as NHK ETV (special editions continued until May 1).

✔ Learning utilizing online materials• Enhancement of MEXT’s “Children’s Learning Support Website”※Inclusion and updating of tables listing videos and learning materials organized by the area and units for each subject.
• Collaboration with METI’s “Future Classroom” project✔ Teaching interactively online• Interactive online instruction utilizing smartphones or families' personal computers (e.g., using video conferencing systems).
• Providing online materials corresponding to the contents of textbooks so that online lessons using textbooks can be conducted smoothly.
• Maintaining communication between school/teacher and student /family by confirming online learning progress and monitoring student’s health .
• Preparation of guidelines for using tablets provided by schools at home.
• Support for assigning instructors or additional teachers to assist children in self-study and learning who are cared for at schools while regular lessons are suspended.
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（※Underlined measures are included in the FY2020 supplementary budget. ）Primary, secondary education: Prompt preparation of ICT environment● Provision of "1 computer per 1 student" at the compulsory education stage ahead of scheduled target of 2023, and support for provision ofassistive data I/O devices for students with disabilities.
● Support for provision of LTE communications environment (mobile routers) for families without Wi-Fi access.
● Support for provision of communications devices like webcams, microphones, etc. for teachers to facilitate smooth, interactive communication
between the school and students.
● Support for enhancement of teacher ICT training conducted by local governments, through assigning of ICT education advisors, curriculum
specialists, etc.
● Prompt implementation of revisions to the Copyright Act in 2018 to promote smooth utilization of copyrighted materials for online instruction.

Higher education: Preparation of environment for distance learning at universities● Full dissemination to all students of universities' ability to flexibly deal with the authorization of credits and graduation at universities and colleges of technology
through the utilization of distance learning and supplementary lectures.
● Full dissemination to all students that it will be possible to take interactive distance learning classes at home and that cap rules on credits even if some parts ofregular lessons are conducted as distance lessons will not be applied.
● Support for preparation of technical environment, including online equipment (webcams, microphones, etc.) for
teachers and mobile routers for students, necessary for conducting distance education. MEXT will also compile anddisseminate good examples of distance classes and support the efforts of all universities.
● MEXT will consult with telecommunication carriers in collaboration with other relevant ministries to reduce thecommunication costs for students.
● MEXT will facilitate the prompt implementation of revisions to the Copyright Act in 2018 to promote the smoothutilization of copyrighted materials for online instruction at universities, etc.

Securing places for children● Communities and schools will collaborate and cooperate to ensure that children who cannot
stay at their home while schools are temporarily closed have a place to stay and receive
learning opportunities.

ホームページ
学校と地域でつくる学びの未来

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（※Underlined measures are included in the FY2020 supplementary budget.)Support to university hospitals, etc. for infectious disease research

At this time, MEXT particularly extends its gratitude to everyone involved in treating the novel coronavirus on the frontlines
at hospitals and who are engaged in related research and development. The establishment and strengthening of treatment
systems at frontline hospitals and the development of drug treatments and vaccines are urgent issues.
For this, MEXT will make all efforts for: 1) the strengthening of the research base and the acceleration of research fordeveloping countermeasures against COVID-19, and 2) the strengthening of treatment systems and training at hospitals.
Strengthening of the research base and acceleration of research related to COVID-19● By helping to strengthen research centers for infectious diseases in the Asian region and promoting researchusing these centers, MEXT will contribute to the prompt development of therapeutic drugs, etc.
● In order to accelerate R&D for treatment drugs, MEXT will strengthen support platforms for drug discovery
research for academia and private-sector companies.
● MEXT will support R&D for rapid testing methods that can greatly reduce the time for testing, which willcontribute to the prompt detection of COVID-19 cases in Japan.
● MEXT will prioritize the authorization of procedures requiring the MEXT Minister’s confirmation based on the
Cartagena Act necessary for the conducting of genetic recombination experiments.
● MEXT will promote research by moving up the schedule for the trial use of the supercomputer Fugaku, andputting up for temporary offering the utilization of the computational resources of university and NIER
supercomputers.
● MEXT will promote the acceleration of research by supporting the preparation of research infrastructure
facilities at national universities for research showing prospects for the development of vaccines, theestablishment of new testing methods, etc.
● MEXT will open a portal site for researchers and others providing information regarding important points for
infectious disease research, research results in conjunction with MEXT, research equipment at research institutes
that may be used by those engaged in research activities, etc. （https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/coronavirus/mext_00004.html）

Strengthening of treatment systems and personnel training at university hospitals● Without being bound by conventional schemes (subsidy rate: 10/10), in order to overcome the little understood COVID-19, MEXT will support the provisionof medical equipment such as ECMO ventilators to national, public, and private university hospitals, and the training of advanced medical personnel.
● MEXT will support the installation of ventilators, sterilizing equipment, etc. at national university hospitals, which are centers for regional healthcare, and thetraining of advanced medical personnel engaged in infectious disease healthcare.
５Support for sports, cultural activities（※Underlined measures are included in MEXT’s FY2020 supplementary budget.)

MEXT again expresses its gratitude to organizations taking the lead in cooperating to follow the restrictions on sports and cultural events requestedby the Government. At the same, we are aware that, with these restrictions, the suspensions have had a great impact on freelance workers andothers engaged in these activities.
In response to persons greatly affected by the Government's suspension request, the Government, with the cooperation of all relevant ministries
and agencies, will make unified efforts to support individuals and organizations that have suffered damage to their business operations and daily
lives as a result of the suspension of events and performances, to assist in anti-coronavirus measures for the reopening of sports and cultural facilities
and the resumption of events, performances, etc. and to support the resurgence of interest and enthusiasm for sports and cultural activities.

Support to sports-affiliated persons○ Support for advertising/PR expenses to secure stable, continuing fan base for sports events

Society again realizes
the value of sports

STEP.

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◆：Efforts by whole govt. ○：Efforts by MEXT, Japan Sports Agency○ Expenses support for holding exchange events, sports events for revitalization of local community/region◆ Holding of fixed-period, public-private campaigns to encourage consumption targeting sports eventsand entertainment programs (providing discounts, point coupons to consumers who purchase tickets
for sports/entertainment events)

Support for resurgence of interest in, ○ Publicizing/implementation of plans for creation of exercise/sports opportunities to alleviate
enthusiasm for sports
problem of children’s lack of exercise due to cancellation of sports events, closing of schools○ Expenses support for measures (thermometers, disinfectants, etc.) to prevent spread of coronavirus atsports events

STEP.

２

○ Refurbishment of public sports facilities with installation of ventilating fans, air conditioning, etc.

Support for reopening in safe,
secure environments○ Improvement of air conditioning system to prevent infection and strengthening of counseling system for the
top athletes in order to use the Japan High Performance Sport Center safely○ Presentation to sports organizations of government’s overall support package to sports bodies, individuals◆Increase of emergency loans, loan guarantees by Japan Finance Corp., etc. ◆Large expansion of special
measures for Employment Adjustment Subsidies◆Emergency special small-scale loans, etc.

STEP.

１

Support for maintenance of
employment,
continuation of operations◆ Establishment of new system of subsidies for SMEs, individual proprietors and households facing distressed business
operations and livelihoods○ Tax revision allowing refund amount for cancelled tickets to be deducted as contribution
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Support to artists, others involved in cultural activities（※Underlined measures in red are included in MEXT’s FY2020 supplementary budget.)Actions through provision of loans, subsidies (by entire govt.)▶Expansion of loans, loan guarantees through Japan
Finance Corp., etc.

▶New benefits for households facing▶Expansion of special measures for Employment
Adjustment Subsidies

for Daily Life Support [tentative title])▶Expansion of small-scale loans▶Support to SMEs, individual proprietors facing
distressed business operations

Measures related to cancellation fees borne bycultural facilities
MEXT will request that local governments
appropriately manage cultural facilities introducing
the designated administrator system that have lost
revenues due to cancellations caused by themeasures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Revision of tax system to allow ticket buyers towaive the right for a ticket refund and declare therefund amount a tax deduction for a contribution
If persons who have purchased admission fees tocancelled cultural or artistic events waive the rightfor a refund, the refund amount can be considered
a deduction for a contribution.

▶Initiatives in cooperation withother ministries, agencies

hardships in daily life (Temporary Benefits※Information will be provided to artists, etc.
regarding what specific support systems they
can utilize, based on their individual needs.
※Govt. will cooperate to base support on
special characteristics of needs of artists anda wide range of culture-related businesses.

Support for reopening cultural facilities
Support for introduction of time-stagger systemfor people visiting cultural facilities as a measure
to ease congestion and prevent spread of COVID19.
Improvement of viewing environment using
advanced technology (enhancing cultural
facilities' profitability)
Through support for the production anddistribution of videos, educational contents, andso on, museums will improve their viewing
environments, enhance their profitability, andbuild interdisciplinary collaboration models.

▶ Providing discounts, point coupons to consumers
who purchase tickets for sports/entertainment events
held over fixed period (in collaboration with METI).

Art Caravans
Art caravans hold performances and exhibitions
throughout the country by artists, including
freelance artists, and performing arts groups,
including students and amateurs.
Creating opportunities for children to appreciate andexperience art and culture
MEXT will support cultural appreciation classes
forced to be suspended with the closure of schools
and activities for children to experience culturalactivities.

Come-back period
Reopening period

Self-restraint period
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Contact numbers for each support measure

MEXT telephone number (main): 03-5253-4111

Support for reopening schools(Overall, other than below) Health Education and Shokuiku Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.2976）(Kindergarten) Early Childhood Education Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.2373）
Anti-COVID-19 measures(School bus for special needs education schools) Special Needs Education Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.2430）(School facilities) (Public schools) Department of Facilities Planning and Disaster Prevention Local Facilities Aid Division（ext.3769）(National schools)Department of Facilities Planning and Disaster Prevention NationalFacilities Division（ext.2299）(Private schools) Private Education Institution Aid Division, Private Education Institution Department（ext.2774）

Learning guidance, mental health care,etc.

(Additional assignment of instructors）Financial Affairs Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.3704）(Additional assignment ) Financial Affairs Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.2038）(School counselors, etc.) Student Affairs Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.3289）(Nature experience activities) Community Learning Promotion Division, Education Policy Bureau（ext.2056）

Experiential activities for children(Creating sports opportunities) Sports for Health Division（ext.3939）(Creating cultural appreciation/experience activities）Arts and Culture Division （ext.2835）

Cancellation, postponement of school(Domestic school trips) Student Affairs Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.2389）

trips, measures regarding suspension of(Overseas school trips) Education Reform and International Affairs Division, Education Policy Bureau（ext.3487）

school lunches(School lunches) Health Education and Shokuiku Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.2694）(Support to high school students whose family finances suddenly change, support for school attendance in compulsory education) the Project Team for
Financial Support in Elementary and Secondary Education, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau（ext.3578）(New Higher Education Support System, JASSO scholarships, employment assistance) Student Support and Exchange Division, Higher Education Bureau

Support to students in hardship（ext.3050）

situations(Tuition exemption)［National university］National University Corporation Support Division, Higher Education Bureau (ext.2494)［Private university］
Private Education Institution Aid Division, Private Education Institution Department (ext.2545)［Private high school］Private Education Institution Aid
Division, Private Education Institution Department (ext.2547)［Colleges of technology］Technical Education Division, Higher Education Bureau（ext.2501）

Flexible support to Japanese overseas
students, international students in Japan

Office for Student Exchange, Student Support and Exchange Division, Higher Education Bureau（ext.3433）

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MEXT telephone number (main): 03-5253-4111“Ensuring learning” for children during school closures(Overall, other than below) Media, Information and Foreign Language Education Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau (ext.2085)
Support to ensure children do not stop learning(Learning using ICT for children who cannot attend school) （School Curriculum Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau (ext.2367)(Assignment of instructors) Financial Affairs Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau (ext.3704)(Additional allotment of teachers) Financial Affairs Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau (ext.2038)(Overall, other than below) Media, Information and Foreign Language Education Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau (ext.2085)

Primary, secondary education: Prompt preparation of ICT(Preparation of assistive ICT support devices for children with disabilities) Special Needs Education Division, Elementary and Secondary Education

environment

Bureau (ext.3255)(Facilitation of utilization of copyrighted material for online education) Copyright Division (ext.2982)

Higher education: Preparation of distance learning
environment at universities, etc.

Securing places for children(Overall, other than below) Technical Education Division, Higher Education Bureau (ext.2501)(Distance learning system) University Promotion Division, Higher Education Bureau (ext.3338)(Facilitation of utilization of copyrighted material for university distance learning classes) Copyright Division (ext.2982)
Community Learning Promotion Division, Education Policy Bureau (ext.3261)

Support to university hospitals, etc. for infectious disease research(Accelerating research regarding COVID-19) Policy Division, Science and Technology Policy Bureau (ext.3907)
Strengthening research infrastructure, accelerating
research regarding COVID-19

Promotion Policy Division, Research Promotion Bureau（ext.4229）(Preparation of basic research facilities at national universities) National University Corporation Support Division, Higher Education Bureau (ext.3083)

Strengthening treatment system, personnel training atuniversity hospitals

Medical Education Division, Higher Education Bureau (ext.2578)

Support for sports, cultural activities
Step.1 Support for maintenance of employment, continuation of businesses(Overall govt. support to organizations, individuals) Contact numbers for information on measures by relevant ministries, agencies are provided on
the website below. https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20200401-mxt_kouhou02-000004520_02.pdf(Regarding tax revision for waiving ticket refund and deducting refund amount as contribution)
Support to sports-related persons[Tickets for sporting events] Sports Organizations Support and Private-Sector Cooperation Division (ext.2686)[Event participation fee] Sports for Health Division (ext.2688)※After the “New Subsidy/Grant System” is established, the contact number will be provided on the JSA‘s website.

9MEXT telephone number (main): 03-5253-4111

Support for sports, cultural activities (cont’d)
Step.2 Support for reopening in safe and secure environment(Support for expenses to prevent spread of COVID-19 at sports events)[Organizers of nationwide leagues, events][Regional sports commissions][Para-sports associations]Sports Organizations Support and Private-Sector Cooperation Division (ext.3943)

Community Development Division (ext.3931)

Sports for Health Division (ext.3490)(Refurbishment of public sports facilities) Community Development Division (ext.3934)
Support to sports-related persons(Measures for preventing COVID-19 at the Japan High Performance Sport Center) Competitive Sports Division (ext.2678)
Step.3 Support for rejuvenating interest, enthusiasm in sports(Support for costs of publicizing sports events)
Same as Step 2 “Support for expenses to prevent spread of COVID-19 at sports events”(Support for expenses to hold regional revitalization/exchange events) Community Development Division (ext.3931)(Creation of sports events for children) Sports for Health Division (ext.3939)※After the public-private “Go to Campaign” for stimulating consumption targeting sporting and entertainment events” is established, the contact
number will be provided on the JSA‘s website.
(Measures to mitigate revenue loss from cancellation charges borne by cultural facilities introducing the designated administrator system)
Planning and Coordination Division (ext.4833)(Support for reopening of cultural facilities) Planning and Coordination Division (ext.3056)(Improvement of viewing environment through utilization of advanced technology)［Museums］Planning and Coordination Division (ext.3056)

Support to culture- and arts-related persons［Cultural and arts organizations ］Arts and Culture Division (ext.2084)(Art caravans) Arts and Culture Division (ext.2084)(Creation of cultural appreciation and experience opportunities for children) Arts and Culture Division (ext.2835)(Tax revision for waiving ticket refund and deducting the refund amount as a contribution) Cultural Economy and International Affairs Division(ext.4764)※Please see the ACA’s website for information on measures by relevant ministries, agencies. Information is scheduled to be updated as measuresare enhanced. https://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/sonota_oshirase/2020020601.html

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