Japan's PM, Shinzo Abe, has a noble mission to brighten the future for Japanese children (Image via: The Japan Times)

Japan: Free Preschool Policy Passed

TOKYO - Japanese children can now relax about their educational future. Recently, National Diet of Japan – generally known as The Diet - passed a new policy that allows children from age 3-5 to go to preschool institution for free. Children from age 3-5 years old can now go to preschool free of charge, regardless their family income. This policy was a fundamental breakthrough made by the Prime Minister, in order to raise birthrate and expand child, and of course, to prepare human resource for the future.

For these missions, Abe allocated around ¥800 billion, since there are approximately 2.5 million children at the age range where they attend preschool education. However, for the family with high income, they will have to pay part of the tuition fee, should their children go to private preschool institution.

In other news, Japan has raised their consumption tax rate from 8% to 10%, equal to ¥1.7 trillion. From this tax revenue, Abe hopes to subsidize the money to pay for the preschool education for better future.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) policy research council’s member, Seiji Kihara, stated that the policy was not intended to be so. They once wanted to limit the policy until the nursery institution, before finalize it on Wednesday to all preschool stage.

How about the university student? The policy is limited only for the family with low income. While this policy is being scrutinized repeatedly, Abe has dream to not only pay for their education, but also to support their living while they are undergoing their sagacious study.

In 2018, the government passed the bill and it will be effective starting October 2019. For 2019 fiscal year, only 5 year oldies are covered by the policy. The 3-4 year oldies have to wait until next year.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-expanding-free-preschool-part-of-Abe-s-17.5bn-spending