Japan eyes health checkup support for truant students

Baku, October 23, AZERTAC Japan's internal affairs ministry urged the education ministry, health ministry and Children and Families Agency to take measures to ensure that children who refuse to attend school can receive health checkups, according to Jiji Press. A survey released by the internal affairs ministry found that 5. 7 percent of elementary school students and 19. 9 percent of junior high school students who refuse to go to school did not undergo all examinations included in school health checkups last year.

The government's first survey on health checkups for truant students covered participation rates from April to September last year at 19 elementary schools and 33 junior high schools in 30 municipalities across the country. Of the truant students, only 17. 8 percent of elementary school students and 12. 2 percent of junior high school students underwent all components of health checkups. In some cases, the detection of scoliosis and kidney disease was delayed because students did not receive health checkups. Some municipalities allow truant students to…