2019 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 1-13
This paper explores formation of the “learning and life support program” for children of needy households by referring to discussions at conferences and social security councils supervised by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Many agree that a learning support system for children should cultivate their pluralistic abilities, including non-cognitive ones such as the ability to live necessary for their future independence, not to speak of improvement in their scholastic abilities. Such diversity of skills is not acquired until a better environment is created for child rearing. Nowadays, collaboration between social welfare and education has been accelerated to implement strategies for overcoming child poverty, for which government and municipal support is truly essential. Thus, we can safely say that new development links learning support with household support. A children’s cafeteria exemplifies a good relationship between the local community and the school although their collaboration needs further reinforcement. Learning support has made some changes, and now the formation of a learning and life support program is identified as a significant comprehensive program for poor households.
