Close to 20,000 foreign children may not be attending school despite being eligible to enroll, a government study showed Friday.

The first such survey, conducted by the education ministry in May and June, found that 19,654, or 15.8 percent, of eligible foreign children are not attending elementary or junior high schools, although some may be going to international schools.

According to the ministry, foreign children who wish to attend public elementary or junior high schools can do so free of charge under the International Covenants on Human Rights and other agreements. However, unlike Japanese children, education for them is not compulsory.