In a groundbreaking move, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike declared the city’s commitment to providing free high school tuition for all students, irrespective of family income. The announcement was made during a meeting of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, where Koike highlighted the challenges faced by child-rearing families and emphasized the need for swift and substantial support.
Currently, families in Tokyo with an annual income of less than ¥9.1 million receive financial aid from a national fund, covering up to ¥118,800 for students in public schools and up to ¥475,000 for those in private schools, effectively making high school tuition free for low-income households.
However, under the proposed plan, Koike aims to eliminate the income limit for tuition aid, enabling all households in Tokyo to send their children to both public and private high schools without financial constraints. The move comes in response to the increasing concerns and anxieties faced by families in the current environment.
The average tuition cost at private high schools in Tokyo is ¥483,311 this fiscal year, with additional expenses such as enrollment fees bringing the total to ¥956,918 for the first school year. While specific details of the plan are yet to be finalized, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is committed to expanding the aid system to cover a broader spectrum of students.
Governor Koike expressed her desire to implement the plan by the 2024 fiscal year, taking proactive measures ahead of the national government. She also called upon the national government to provide better support for child-rearing families, indicating a collaborative effort between local municipalities and the central government.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, in response to Tokyo’s declaration, stated in a news conference that the government is working towards offering more comprehensive support to child-rearing households. He emphasized the importance of a combined effort between the national government and local municipalities to alleviate the financial burden of high school-level education.
This move by Tokyo follows the example set by the Osaka Prefectural Government, which earlier this year announced a plan to offer free high school tuition irrespective of household income, starting from the 2026 fiscal year. While most prefectures currently have income limits in place for financial assistance, Tokyo’s bold initiative signals a significant shift towards more inclusive and accessible education for all.
(Source: Yukana Inoue | Japan Times)
