The Finance Ministry has asked the education ministry to increase the number of students per class, reversing a decision from 2011 to lower class sizes. The Finance Ministry plans to make budget cuts for education that will mean up to 4,000 teachers are put out of work and an estimated 3,325 schools closed. The education ministry, as well as the public, should oppose such a cutback. Increasing the number of students in classrooms by nearly 15 percent is the wrong way to save money.
Putting class sizes back to the pre-2011 level of 40 students in first grade classes at elementary schools from the current 35 is an attempt to save ¥8.6 billion in personnel costs . In the proposal, the Finance Ministry argued that the 2011 reform, which was intended to make it easier for students to adjust to learning in a classroom and socializing with classmates during the first years, had failed to reduce incidents of bullying. Since 2011, reported incidents of bullying have increased.
But that's because more incidents are being reported. Teachers, administrators and parents, as well as students, have increased their awareness of bullying. If anything, the increased number of reported incidents is evidence that the full extent of bullying is being uncovered.