Classrooms and corridors in 418 public schools, ranging from kindergartens to high schools, had exposed asbestos-sprayed walls and ceilings as of last month despite the government's order to take safety measures, according to an education ministry survey released Thursday.
Ahead of the release of the survey results, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology had ordered prefectural boards of education to take safety measures, including discontinuing the use of the facilities.
The ministry surveyed 43,588 public educational facilities up to the high school level and said 4,137 contained sprayed asbestos.