Asahi Shimbun, 17th July 2013
This is from an article contributed by the NPO for the Assistance of high schools students.
According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, there were 53,937students who dropped out of high schools in 2011. This is about 1.6% of the high school population. Among the top reasons for dropping out are : 'failure to adjust to school life and academic work' (38.8%) and 'change in course of study' (34.1%).
In past years, students who took up counseling before dropping out of schools were typically the rowdy types. Cases peaked in May through June, and 70% were first year students. But in recent years, the NPO reported that students who have excelled in sports and academically high flyers make up the core of students dropping out.
For those students who entered their schools through sports participation, the reasons cited for dropping out are mainly injuries and violence from seniors. For those students who are academic achievers, reasons cited are poor results and lessons mismatch.
Whichever the reasons behind the dropouts, students were allowed to dropout quite easily without sufficient counseling from teachers and little support for both their extracurricular activities and studies. Even though a high school education is not compulsory by law, it is a basic requirement if one is to apply for a job. Schools do not just have a responsibility in accepting students, they must also help to support their students through graduation. Before a student drops out, his school should pay attention to his problems and assist him in coping with his problems.
School dropouts who want to continue their studies have other channels like online courses or short-term schools. However, it is advisable for them to transfer to or seek admission to another regular high school. But regular high schools do not accept students in the middle of a term unless they are newcomers from out of town. Tokyo High School is bucking this trend. As long as a student passes the entrance exams, he can enter the school in the middle of a term. If this practice is adopted more widely, there will be less high schools dropouts.
Whichever the reasons behind the dropouts, students were allowed to dropout quite easily without sufficient counseling from teachers and little support for both their extracurricular activities and studies. Even though a high school education is not compulsory by law, it is a basic requirement if one is to apply for a job. Schools do not just have a responsibility in accepting students, they must also help to support their students through graduation. Before a student drops out, his school should pay attention to his problems and assist him in coping with his problems.
School dropouts who want to continue their studies have other channels like online courses or short-term schools. However, it is advisable for them to transfer to or seek admission to another regular high school. But regular high schools do not accept students in the middle of a term unless they are newcomers from out of town. Tokyo High School is bucking this trend. As long as a student passes the entrance exams, he can enter the school in the middle of a term. If this practice is adopted more widely, there will be less high schools dropouts.
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