To lower the number of children on waiting lists to enter nursery schools, the government plans to offer incentives to the estimated 700,000 qualified nursery school teachers now on leave or otherwise not working, government sources said Saturday.

The number of children on waiting lists for spots at nursery schools rose to 23,167 as of April 1, marking the first increase in five years, according to data by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

The government has stepped up efforts to build and equip nursery facilities around the country to realize Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's goal of eliminating the waiting list, a drive hampered by a severe shortage of teachers.