- 27 Dec 2003
- 2,855
- 2,104
Public schools in Japan suffering from record teacher shortage
A teacher in her 50s at a ward-run elementary school in Tokyo heard the school's principal utter something surprising at a staff meeting in early April.
"It has been decided that the new educator we expected to come work with us will not actually come work here," the principal said.
The new teacher would not be sent to the school, which meant another homeroom teacher had to be found.
Public schools are facing shortages of teachers across Japan shortly following the beginning of the new academic year in April.
Fewer permanent teachers, coupled with job seekers' tendencies to shy away from becoming educators due to the long working hours, are believed to have resulted in the current deficit.
(cont.)
A teacher in her 50s at a ward-run elementary school in Tokyo heard the school's principal utter something surprising at a staff meeting in early April.
"It has been decided that the new educator we expected to come work with us will not actually come work here," the principal said.
The new teacher would not be sent to the school, which meant another homeroom teacher had to be found.
Public schools are facing shortages of teachers across Japan shortly following the beginning of the new academic year in April.
Fewer permanent teachers, coupled with job seekers' tendencies to shy away from becoming educators due to the long working hours, are believed to have resulted in the current deficit.
(cont.)