A high school student in rural Akita, Japan, wanted to attend a private school to follow his dream of becoming a track athlete like someone he admired. But his family couldn’t afford it, even with new government programs that made private school tuition "free" for many.
The student, 15-year-old Kota Tanaka (not his real name), lives with his mother, younger brother, and grandparents. His mom is the only one working. Although the government offers financial aid, it doesn’t cover other costs like facility fees, transportation, or living expenses if he had to move closer to the school. So, despite the tuition being covered, the family still couldn’t manage the total cost.
Instead, he enrolled in a local public high school and continued track there. He and his mom felt frustrated watching news about the “free tuition” policy because it mostly benefits students in big cities like Tokyo, where more private schools are concentrated. A large portion of the funding goes to these areas, while rural students like him are left out. His mom said, “The rich just keep getting richer.”
Another student from Nagano, 17-year-old Kurinosuke Mori, also criticized the policy. He attends a public school and supports better funding for public education, not just making private school free. He has seen overworked teachers, outdated facilities, and poor learning environments in public schools. He helped lead a petition calling for more support for public schools and gathered over 36,000 signatures.
The main concern from both students and parents: the government’s “free private school” plan could worsen inequality, helping urban and wealthier families more while leaving rural and lower-income students behind. Some also worry that if private schools become free, public schools might lose more students and decline further—already happening in places like Osaka.
These students and families are asking: if the government can afford to help private schools, why not fix the problems in public ones first?
by MagazineKey4532