What Japan's inclusive school systems can teach us about resilience

Ensuring all children equal access to quality education is key to building a resilient society. In Japan, efforts are underway to address the growing number of children who encounter challenges in attending school.

The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) defines children who bear challenges to attend school as “those who miss 30 or more school days per year due to psychological, emotional, physical, or social factors, excluding absences caused by illness or financial hardship.” According to MEXT, in 2023, a record-breaking 346,482 students fell under this category, accounting for 3.7% of all children enrolled in primary and secondary schools, both of which are within the scope of compulsory education.

Furthermore, the percentage of children facing challenges attending school has been rising for 11 consecutive years. Alarmingly, more than half of these students miss over 90 days a year, and 3.1% have zero attendance. While bullying is a known cause, there is a wide range of factors contributing to children not attending schools, including a lack of motivation, anxiety and depression, irregular lifestyles, poor academic performance and difficulties with friendships.

Missing school results in the loss of opportunity to develop essential academic and social skills. The long-term consequences are concerning as it not only affects the well-being of these children but also have implications for their future role in society. It is essential to create an educational environment in which all children, including those facing challenges with attendance, feel safe and supported.

In March 2023, MEXT introduced the Measures Against School Refusal to Ensure Learning Without Leaving Anyone Behind (COCOLO Plan). The plan aims to construct a comprehensive social system that ensures educational opportunities for all children by fostering collaboration between schools, local communities, families, free schools and other organizations.

As part of this effort, the government is establishing Diversified Learning Schools designed to accommodate the needs of students struggling with traditional schooling. They provide the same graduation qualifications as regular schools while offering a more flexible and supportive learning environment. The goal is to establish 300 of these schools across Japan. As of February 2025, 21 public and 14 private schools at the elementary, junior high and high school levels are operational.

A junior high school-level Diversified Learning School in Sapporo sets a structured schedule with designated start and finish times, class periods and classrooms. However, they do not rigidly enforce this schedule on the students. Instead, it allows the students to learn at their own pace and in environments where they feel most comfortable. Additionally, the school incorporates one-on-one reflection sessions with teachers and uses interactive activities, including games, to help students develop social and communication skills.

Creating an inclusive learning environment helps communities ensure that children who struggle in conventional schools still have access to a safe and supportive educational experience.

In higher education, online learning opportunities are expanding. To support high school students who struggle to attend traditional schools, MEXT has introduced a system to provide credits through online classes starting in April 2024. Model schools have been designated to assess the effectiveness of the system and evaluate its impact on student learning.

Aside from the new system implemented by MEXT, a prominent example of online education in Japan is N High School, a private institution established in 2016 by two companies that create entertainment content, Kadokawa and Dwango. The school provides a range of learning formats, including a “commuter course”, which resembles a traditional in-person school, an “online course” where students study independently at their own pace, and an “online commuter course” in which students engage in virtual learning alongside their peers. This flexible system accommodates not only students who struggle in conventional schools, but also those with limited local educational options, and students who need a schedule that allows them to focus on specialized activities.

As of September 2024, N High School has over 30,000 students, the highest enrollment of any high school in Japan. It also ranks second for the number of students accepted into overseas universities. In addition to academic training, the school provides options and ways for students to interact with their peers, make friends and participate in club activities, even if they are physically distant.

With the flexible and inclusive approach, online schools are gaining attention as a promising alternative to traditional education, providing diverse learning opportunities for students across Japan.

Awareness of gender diversity in Japanese schools is growing as well, leading to significant changes. One example is the expanded options for school uniforms. Traditionally, Japanese school uniforms have been gender-specific, with boys wearing trousers and girls wearing skirts. In recent years, more than 90% of schools considering new uniform designs have requested “diversity-conscious uniforms”, according to leading student uniform manufacturer Tombo.

The company also emphasizes the importance of treating it as freedom of choice when introducing new uniforms. Rather than focusing solely on terms such as “gender-neutral” or “diversity,” the company states on its official website, promoting “flexibility in uniform selection” allows students to choose what they feel most comfortable wearing, without emotional stress.

The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is widely recognized in business and the economy, as highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lighthouses 2024 report. These principles are equally essential in education. By creating a safe, inclusive and diverse learning environment, where all students feel comfortable and accepted, schools can help children develop critical social skills, thereby ultimately strengthening the resilience of societies.