Scandal-plagued Sakata Junior College has decided to effectively close and transfer all of its students to other schools and restart operations as a new college next April, officials of the school said.
The college made the decision at a board meeting, the officials said, adding that it will also stop accepting Chinese students, a segment it catered heavily to.
Although the school had said there was a possibility it would continue classes, the decision is expected to lead to its effective closure.
The college said Wednesday it has 52 second-year students scheduled to graduate by March next year and will recommend them to other schools at guidance sessions to start April 11. The college does not have any first-year students because it suspended enrollment for the current academic year.
It will start holding talks with these 52 students, and if any want to continue studying at the college, it may hold regular classes, school officials said.
The college said it has also decided to expel 143 students who have not passed any courses, including those who have been working in Tokyo in violation of visa regulations.
Board Chairman Hideki Kaibara stepped down Wednesday and was replaced by Ryuji Takeda, acting director general. President Yonosuke Inamoto resigned the same day, but a successor has not been found.
Kaibara offered to donate 100 million yen to pay teachers and other employees whose salaries have been suspended and to pay other costs, college officials said, adding that it will try to gather donations to reconstruct the college.