Educational Rights of Foreign Children:A Pilot Study for the Educational Environment of Foreign Children, in Kani City, Gifu

Abstract

Introduction
 That all children, regardless of their nationality, have the right to be educated is stated in the “Conventions on the rights of the child” has been also ratified by Japan. However, in truth, education for foreign children living in Japan takes the form of a “special favor” conceded to them. The real situation shows that foreign children living in Japan are not guaranteed elementary school educational organizations international standards.
Objective
 To grasp the actual condition and propose policies to solve the problem of school unattendance in one, we conducted a survey. Until now there was no data available on the situation of foreign children school attendance and unattendance.
Methods
 Kani city in Gifu prefecture, known by its large foreign resident population, was selected as pilot community. The cooperation of the city and prefectural authorities, the municipal board of education, the international exchange center was obtained. Data collection took place among foreigners of all nationalities in schooling age, between April 2003 and March 2005.
Results
 The data collected allowed the clarification of the situation of foreign children school attendance and its causes. Although the study had as a basis the data on registered foreign citizens provided by Kani city; we also gained cooperation from residents and communities. In other words, “all” children, even those who were not counted on the city data are included in the study. There was a large ratio of school unattendance.
Discussion
 Kani city Mayor launched the “Program to guarantee foreign children education” which included the “Zero school unattendance” project. The program as well as data collection have been carried jointly among the government, civil society, etc. and has been taken as a “model” to achieve “Zero school unattendance” along the country.