Japan to Expand Japanese Language Support for Foreign Students in Public Schools Using Unlicensed Specialist Instructors

Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has released details of a draft report proposing enhanced support for foreign children and students in public schools, particularly in Japanese language education.

According to the Sankei News report, the plan aims to actively utilize external specialists in Japanese language instruction. This includes leveraging the "Special Part-time Lecturer System," which allows individuals with specialized expertise to teach as part-time instructors without a standard teaching license. Currently, Japanese language guidance is not covered under this system, but the proposal seeks to expand it so that qualified external experts (such as registered Japanese language teachers) can handle everything from lesson planning to classroom instruction.
As of 2023 (Reiwa 5), approximately 69,000 foreign children and students in public schools require Japanese language support. The draft also calls for making related subjects mandatory in university teacher-training programs to better prepare educators.The initiative responds to the growing number of foreign students and aims to help them adapt to Japanese society and school life.
Translated Japanese Comments (selected representative examples, kept neutral and factual):

• "Why are there around 140,000 foreign children in public schools? Public schools are for Japanese children. Accepting them hinders Japanese students' education. Japan shouldn't bear responsibility for educating non-Japanese children."
• "The real goal seems to be assigning mother-tongue supporters to each foreign child. This would involve foreigners or related parties obtaining qualifications through NPOs and entering schools without teaching licenses."
• "We should stop family accompaniment for foreign workers. If they have children here, send them back. Review spousal visas that are being misused. This is the result of irresponsible immigration policies."
• "Unless family accompaniment is banned, Japan's education system will collapse."
• "This is shocking. The government prioritizes improving the educational environment for foreign children while ignoring the impact on Japanese children's learning environment. How much must Japanese citizens be burdened?"
• "The costs are paid by Japanese taxpayers. We should prohibit bringing children who can't speak Japanese or require families to return home if they have children here."
• "Instead of patchwork measures, address the root issue. Why are we giving preferential treatment only to foreign children?"

These comments reflect common concerns among Japanese users about taxpayer burden, impacts on local students, and calls for stricter immigration-related policies on family accompaniment and entry requirements. The post itself has garnered significant engagement, with thousands of likes, reposts, and replies.