The Japan Student Services Organization received 131,000 inquiries about scholarships and grants last month, up 70% from last year, in the wake of a rapidly worsening financial situation among students because of the spread of the new coronavirus.
The government has decided to provide up to 200,000 yen to students who are struggling financially, however, the criteria for receiving aid are very specific, leaving some students concerned as to whether they will be eligible.
According to the Tokyo-based organization, there were about 79,000 inquiries in April of last year. After a state of emergency was declared in seven prefectures on April 7 of this year, it became difficult for students to find part-time jobs as businesses have been requested to suspend operations. That prompted students to consult with the organization.
With the increase in the number of students complaining about their financial difficulties, the government has decided to provide 200,000 yen to students of households that are eligible to receive residential tax exemption and 100,000 yen to other students. Students attending universities, graduate schools, vocational schools and Japanese language schools, among other higher educational institutions nationwide, are eligible to receive the financial aid.
An 18-year-old student, who enrolled at a private university in Tokyo in April, intends to apply for the aid, but he said, "I believe I am eligible for the benefit, but I am afraid that I might not meet all of the criteria."
His family runs a restaurant in Osaka Prefecture but suffered a sudden loss in income because of the request for businesses to suspend their operations. The student's rent is 100,000 yen and was planning to live off of the 80,000 yen his family sent, 75,000 yen from his scholarship and 60,000 yen from a part-time job he was hoping to get. He tried to find a new part-time job, but since many businesses have temporarily closed, he returned to his parents' home in Osaka in the middle of this month.
"If this situation continues, I might have to leave the university without ever stepping foot on campus," the student said.
According to the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, there are six conditions that must be met before receiving the financial aid, such as whether the student's part-time job covers a large portion of their living and school expenses. Universities will screen the students' applications and determine if they are eligible for receiving the financial aid. Foreign students are also required to have a good academic record.
About 3.7 million students attend universities, vocational schools and other relevant institutions nationwide, but only about one in nine can receive the money as the government's plan only covers about 430,000 students.
Universities have also taken measures, such as offering subsidies to cover the cost of online classes and establish emergency scholarship programs for students, but few universities have taken steps to reduce or waive tuition.
Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka issued an unusual statement on the university's website on May 5, regarding the reasoning behind not reducing or waving tuition. "The tuition for each university program is meant to cover the cost of education for all students -- past, present and future -- during their 4, 2, or 3-6 years at the university, even though it is paid by semester," he said in the statement.
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