[MEXT] "Study Council Held on the Support for Students with Disabilities Attending Regular Classes"

On June 14, 2022, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) held the first meeting of the "Study Council on the Support for Students with Disabilities Attending Regular Classes."

The MEXT convened the Study Council in light of:

  • An increasing number of students requiring special needs education enrolled in elementary schools and other schools.
  • A high likelihood that students with possible developmental disabilities would attend regular classes.
  • Many students studying in regular classes while receiving special support.

The Study Council aims to materialize the concept of an inclusive education system based on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Furthermore, understanding the state of implementation (achievement and issues) in support for students with disabilities in regular classes, it shall explore how to provide more effective support measures with the cooperation of outside experts.

The Study Council will meet from May 18, 2022 to March 31, 2023, and may be extended as necessary.

At the first meeting, the MEXT explained the purpose of the Study Council and the current status of support for students with disabilities attending regular classes, followed by the election of the chairperson and a discussion of items to be deliberated on.

The following items were listed as examples of things to be deliberated on:

1.How to further enhance instruction in the resource room (a separate classroom in a regular school where students with special educational needs are given direct, specialized instruction)

  • Issues based on the current situation regarding school categories and types of disabilities
  • Issues based on the current implementation modality of the resource room (one within regular schools, one to which teachers travel to regular schools without a resource room, or students with special educational needs visit another school to receive specialized instruction, etc.)
  • Issues based on the current situation of handover between schools involved in the transition (In particular, the handover from the compulsory education stage to upper secondary school and a technical college. It is also necessary to envisage the possibility of supporting students already enrolled in upper secondary schools.)

2.How to support children who fall under the disability level specified in Article 22-3 of the Enforcement Order of the School Education Act

  • Provision of reasonable accommodation and support through the framework of central functions of schools for special needs education
  • Situation of deployment of in-school support systems and the assignment of special needs education support staff
  • Instruction and support to increase the educational effectiveness for students with intellectual disabilities
  • Further support measures by the Government of Japan based on the Constructive Dialogue and Concluding Observation by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Study Council will meet online approximately once a month from now on.

For more information, please visit the website below.
https://www.mext.go.jp/kaigisiryo/2019/09/1421377_00016.html

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