A record 69,752 cases of bullying are recognized in public schools in Tokyo, with the number of serious incidents doubling.Tokyo Bureau of Education: “We are also finding minor cases”: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced on the 31st a survey on problem behavior among children and students in 2023, which found that the number of reported cases of bullying in public schools in Tokyo was 69,752 (an increase of 3,438 cases compared to the previous year), the highest ever. The number of cases judged to be “serious situations” as stipulated by the Act on Promotion of Bullying Prevention Measures has more than doubled to 107, up from the 40s in the previous year.

◆Violent acts are at an all-time high, and truancy in elementary and junior high schools is at a record high for 11 consecutive years.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education believes that “the fact that even minor cases are detected and dealt with is the reason for the increase in the overall number.” The reason behind the increase in the number of serious incidents was that there was greater understanding of the law in educational settings.

The number of recognized cases of bullying was 62,755 in elementary schools (up 3,398 cases), 6822 cases in junior high schools (down 19 cases), 147 cases in high schools (up 84 cases), and 28 cases in special needs schools (down 25 cases). It was.

More than 90% of elementary and junior high schools recognize bullying. There were many cases of “being ridiculed, teased, called names, threatened, and had unpleasant things said to me.” The most common reason for discovery was “school initiatives such as surveys” at elementary and junior high schools, and “complaints from the students themselves” at high schools.

As a countermeasure, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will continue to conduct surveys at least three times a year, and will consider training based on the factors that led to new serious situations and common issues.

The number of violent acts also reached a record high of 3,332, an increase of 440 from the previous year. By grade level, most students are in the 4th year of elementary school, 1st year of junior high school, and 2nd year of high school.

Furthermore, among the “long-term absentee children/students” who were absent from elementary and junior high school for 30 days or more a year, the number of students who did not attend school due to illness or financial reasons was 31,726 (an increase of 4,814 from the previous year). This is the 11th consecutive year of increase and the highest number ever. A representative from the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education said, “This is due to a change in the mindset of parents who are no longer forcing their children to go to school, and the expansion of diverse learning opportunities.” The results are posted on the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education’s website. (Okunohi)