Tokyo: Over 346,482 elementary and junior high school students in Japan were classified as truant in the last school year. This marks the eleventh consecutive annual increase and the highest figure on record, the latest survey by the education ministry showed. 
It represents an increase of more than 47,000 students, or over 15%, compared to the previous year.
In breakdown, 130,370 elementary school students were absent for 30 or more days, which is five times the number from a decade ago, while 216,112 junior high students were truant, representing a 2.2-fold increase over the same period.
The report cited a lack of motivation for school life as the most common reason for truancy, followed by anxiety or depression and disrupted daily routines, Xinhua news agency reported.
Additionally, reported cases of bullying reached a record 732,568 incidents across all school types, with elementary schools accounting for the majority.
In light of the results, the ministry emphasized the need for tailored educational support and better detection and handling of bullying in schools, with particular attention to organizational responses to prevent severe outcomes.
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&mdash;IANS
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Lack of motivation for school life, depression, anxiety cited reasons for truancy

Number has increased more than 47K students than last year

Japan sees record number of truant students

Number has increased more than 47K students than last year

November 1, 2024 | 12:45 IST