2018 Volume 170 Pages 1-16
This paper describes the educational support provided to children with foreign backgrounds in Niigata Prefecture, a region where foreign residents are scattered over a wide area. Local governing bodies do provide support, but the problems faced by these children are serious, and it is impossible to say that they are getting adequate help. Children with foreign backgrounds face more than just the challenge of mastering the Japanese language; some are in situations in which they cannot feel comfortable either at home or at school. They may have trouble adapting to school life due to cultural differences, and at the same time experience conflict with their parents due to differing attitudes towards education. Literakoya Niigata is a volunteer organization that provides assistance to such children in the form of Japanese language instruction, supplementary study groups for academic subjects and individual counselling on preparing for entrance examinations. The study groups also serve as a place where the children may interact, thus providing mental as well as academic support. The wide area over which foreign residents are found in Niigata, however, makes it impossible for volunteer classrooms to cover all the needs, and many issues remain to be dealt with. Various types of support from administrative bodies is essential.
