Record 350,000 students refuse to go to school in Japan in FY 2024

The figure, up from 346,482 in fiscal 2023, marked the 12th straight year of increase.

The number of high school students who refused to attend school in fiscal 2024 came to 67,782, down from 68,770.

The total number of recognized cases of bullying at elementary, junior high and high schools and special-needs schools stood at 769,022, up from 732,568 and hitting a record high for four years in a row. Of the total cases, 76.1 pct had been resolved by the end of fiscal 2024.

Serious bullying cases that may have resulted in significant damage to the body or mind were also the highest ever, at 1,405, up from 1,306.

Cases of violence at elementary, junior high and high schools hit a record 128,859, up from 108,987.

Suicides among students at those schools came to 413, rising from 397. Of the total, 58 students, the largest group, had suffered from psychiatric disorder, followed by 46 who had faced family problems, and 35 who had struggled with issues related to choosing their future courses. Eight had faced bullying. The conditions for 234 students are unknown.

According to the ministry, the increase in non-attendance at elementary and junior high schools may have reflected widespread views on the need for children to take rest as well a change in people's thoughts about attending school after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The increase in recognized bullying cases was apparently due to growing awareness of the importance of proactively finding students facing bullying and the implementation of countermeasures such as providing an information terminal to each student to monitor physical and mental health conditions.

As the latest data included many record numbers, a ministry official said the situation remains "extremely alarming," adding, "Adults should detect signs of children facing trouble early, and we need to take countermeasures systematically."