Japan: High school students have to buy tablets

From the 2022 school year, the Kyoto Prefectural Education Council requires students from public high schools in the area to have their own tablets.

Japanese students get acquainted with the tablet. Children can only buy tablets that are in the price range of about 60,000 – 70,000 yen (12.6 – 14.7 million VND). Many parents and students expressed disappointment and anger at the new pressure on family finances. “We feel very angry,” said an anonymous reader of the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper. Who will spend money on a tablet after the terrible economic impacts of Covid-19? “. Another parent said that the revenues at the beginning of the school year alone for uniforms, textbooks, backpacks, and bus tickets cost 200,000 – 300,000 yen. This person questioned why students are required to own a separate tablet, not share it with their family, or buy a new one that costs no more than 20,000 yen. Others also said that in addition to not having enough money to buy tablets, many families do not have WiFi or Internet connection. The new policy of Kyoto prefecture could increase the learning gap between students and the gap between rich and poor in society. The Japanese government has issued a regulation that requires every high school student to be equipped with an electronic device such as a tablet computer or a laptop. The National Budget Fund will fund equipment for elementary and middle school students. However, the high school level is not part of the compulsory education program in Japan, so students have to buy it themselves. Some localities can buy on behalf of students through public funds. According to a survey by the Ministry of Education of Japan, only 12 prefectures will fund technology equipment for students and 15 prefectures will require their families to pay for themselves, but there are different policies. During the 2021 school year, five high schools in Kyoto asked 10th graders to equip learning devices including 32 GB iPad 10.2 inch Gen8 (35,000 yen), keyboard and panel (8,470 yen), registration and installation fee. reservations (4,400 yen), 1-year warranty (6,300 yen) and stylus (8,690 yen). Thus, students who are admitted to the school have to spend about 68,000 yen to buy school equipment. Not to mention the beginning of the school year revenues are also close to the cost of buying tablets. In response to the backlash from parents and students, the Kyoto Prefectural Education Commission said it was considering allowing low-income households to rent tablets or borrow money without interest. The representative of the education sector in Kyoto affirmed that tablets are an important and indispensable learning tool for high school students this year and for many years to come. With 10th graders, they can store and systematize the 3-year curriculum in just one handheld device. Tablets also integrate many other educational technology products such as electronic dictionaries and pocket calculators, helping students to save on fees for these devices. Moreover, with the current epidemic situation, high school students in Japan will continue to study remotely, so technology equipment is indispensable. In contrast to Kyoto Prefecture, the Hiroshima Prefectural Education Committee has issued a regulation to allocate or support the cost of purchasing technology equipment for high school students from low-income families. It is expected that about 2,700 families in the province will enjoy the support policy. The Tokyo Metropolitan Education Commission also requires families to equip their own tablets for high school students. However, families can choose products with different models and prices depending on their financial capacity.