Japan schools struggle to assess non-attending students

The number of elementary and junior high school students not attending classes has reached a record high of 340,000 in Japan. This has created challenges in evaluating their learning achievements outside of traditional school settings. In response, the education ministry revised regulations to better assess learning outcomes for these students. Some education boards have developed guidelines, but concerns remain that grading may not support students who cannot attend school. At Narumi Junior High School in Nagoya, a special room called Na-ru-mu allows students who have stopped attending classes to engage in various activities. Currently, eight students use the space weekly for independent study, reading, or playing games.