The education and finance ministers agreed to limit public elementary school class sizes to 35 students maximum for all grades in stages over five years starting in fiscal 2021.
The move was introduced at a 2021 draft budget meeting held Thursday by Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Koichi Hagiuda and Finance Minister Taro Aso.
Small class sizes will allow for more closely supervised settings and help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"We want to realize individualized and optimal learning experiences that will bring out the potential of all children," Hagiuda said at a press conference after the meeting, emphasizing the significance of smaller class sizes.
The education ministry plans to submit to the ordinary Diet session next year a draft amendment to the compulsory schooling standard law, which stipulates the maximum number of students per class.
The law currently designates 35 students as the maximum number of children per class in the first grade and 40 in other grades in public elementary schools.
In fiscal 2021, the upper limit for the second grade will be lowered initially, and by fiscal 2025, the limit for all grades will be decreased to 35.
For public junior high schools, the current limit of 40 students per class will be maintained. Discussions will continue over lowering that amount.
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