Free schools as a solution to school truancy in Japan

School can be a difficult time for anyone. Students face a lot of pressure to fit in and excel academically. Japanese schools in particular are known for their strict conformity and long hours studying and participating in after school clubs. Some schools even try to dictate everything from the kinds of glasses students wear to their hair color. Bullying and harassment are also problems that cause some to stay home for extended periods or drop out of school altogether. While the overall suicide rate in Japan has been decreasing, the one demographic that has seen an increase is younger people.

That’s not to say that Japanese schools don’t have their merits. Plenty of children and teenagers in the school system here have positive experiences, and move on to be happy and productive members of society. Regardless, there is always going to be a certain number of students who have difficulty adjusting or coping with the problems they face or simply have different personal and academic needs.

There are a couple of terms that describe absenteeism in Japanese. The first, tokokyohi ( literally “school refusal”) has been around for a while and originated when truancy was considered a mental health issue. The second, futoko (literally “not attending school”) is somewhat newer and is more neutral in tone, though both terms can be found in Japanese discourse about the topic. In 2018, a record 164,528 elementary and junior high students and 52,723 high school students didn’t attend school.

An alternative schooling option for these children

For students who leave school because of these issues, or who otherwise have different needs, there are some options. One is the free school, which provides a curriculum with more freedom and flexibility than public schools. The exact curriculum and focus depends on the institution, but free schools generally focus on allowing students to learn in their own way in a safe environment. Unfortunately, these schools are not accredited, though there have been legal efforts to have them qualify as compulsory education.

In addition to the free schools themselves, there are organizations that support their cause. The Free School Network is an association of free schools throughout Japan, and their website provides information that helps people understand the issue of futoko as well as a list of member schools.

Expecting every student to fit into the same mold is the opposite of educational equality. Realistically, many students do fine with standard education in Japan and elsewhere. Public schools can and should do their best to provide a safe, welcoming environment that encourages each student’s unique gifts.

Regardless, there are always going to be students who for whatever reason struggle to succeed in traditional schools. Free schools and other options may not necessarily be perfect. For example, some of these institutions do not hire teachers with an educational background, as their focus is more on guiding students’ independent learning instead.

However, they provide an alternative to withdrawing from school or even society altogether. Their emphasis on safety and flexibility gives these children another route to success and may provide a model for standard schools to draw inspiration from when making reforms. Encouraging and supporting our differences is essential to give everyone a fair chance at life.