The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has decided to take special measures to allow schools to evaluate students for their academic performance using online materials, ministry official said.
The decision stems from the already lengthy temporary closures of schools in Tokyo, Osaka and other prefectures now covered by the government's declaration of a state of emergency regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The ministry will soon notify boards of education and other bodies across the country of the special measures, which will be applied to elementary, junior and senior high schools that are closed to prevent the spread of virus infections.
Under the measures, students who learn through online materials can be evaluated in the same way as physically attending classes.
The ministry envisions teachers not only having students read online study materials, but also having them write reports to examine the results of their studies and reflect them in their evaluations.
As telecommunications environments differ from household to household, the ministry plans to make flexible use of the system, including television and paper-based teaching materials.
These are exceptional measures because, under normal circumstances, the ministry believes students' grades should be evaluated based on face-to-face lessons in principle, and even hospitalized children are required to simultaneously interact with teachers via the internet in distance learning.
Since many schools in areas subject to the state of emergency declaration have been closed since March, the ministry is seeking home education using online educational materials and television broadcasts.
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