Japan will move its academic year's start from April to September amid the COVID-19 outbreak. (Image via Financial Times)

Abe to push academic year to September

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, stated that he was considering pushing back the start of the academic year from April to September amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak in the country. Currently, the COVID-19 forced all the schools across Japan to shut down temporarily.

Since COVID-19’s effect in Japan was so tremendous, the PM stated that he is considering options, one of which is pushing back the beginning of the academic year to September. Speaking at a House of Representative session, Abe acknowledged that the decision would affect Japan as a whole, not only the Japanese parents and their children.

The academic year was supposed to kick off in April, a common thing in Japan, while other countries start it in September. Starting 27 February, the Japanese government urged the schools to close through 6 May. It may be even longer, as the COVID-19 had not seen its alleviation.

Japan’s Education Minister, Koichi Hagiuda, supported Abe’s view. If the Japanese people support it as well, then the Japanese government might consider applying it. Hagiuda added that if the policy is implemented, the prefectural and local government should ensure that the new academic year system is implemented correctly.

The Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, known to clash with Abe for a while considering COVID-19, stated her support for September’s academic year start. Koike said that September’s start will follow international education standards. Furthermore, Koike said that it will also change the job-hunting culture, a greater change to society.

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Japan kept on rising per Wednesday, the Japanese government did not rule out amending special law to tackle the COVID-19. As the person-to-person contact had been reduced, it has not met the government’s target at 80 percent.

Source: https://bit.ly/3d3roXE