【Education】
■Educational System
・Japanese compulsory education consists of 6 years of elementary school and 3 years of junior high school. Foreign nationals between the ages of 6 and 15 may enter or transfer to a Japanese school.
・The Japanese academic year begins in April and ends in March, with two long-term holidays in the summer and winter.
・Classes at public municipal elementary and junior high schools are conducted entirely in Japanese. Public schools have no tuition fee, but do charge for lunch, teaching materials, and other miscellaneous fees. If children wish to enter high school or university/college, then they must take and pass the respective entrance exams.
・In addition to public schools run by the prefecture/municipality, there are also national and private schools, which have different entrance procedures and fees.
・For more details or inquiry, please contact your municipal office or board of education (with regards to public schools), or at the respective school (with regards to national and private schools.)
・There are international schools offering English curriculums in Sapporo and Niseko for foreign national students who do not speak Japanese and would have difficulty attending a Japanese school.
・There are financial assistance plans (student grants, loans, subsidies, etc.) for those with financial needs for education as well as international students.
＜Related organizations＞
●Processing and general inquiries
〇Public schools
・Municipal offices in Hokkaido (Multilingual)
/soudan/guide/shichoson.xls
・Municipal boards of education (Japanese)
http://www.dokyoi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/hk/ksk/R1.6shityousonkyoui.pdf
・Hokkaido School List, Hokkaido Board of Education (Japanese)
http://www.dokyoi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/hk/ksk/chosa/gakkou-i/gakkou-i.htm
〇Private Schools
・Hokkaido Private Schools Division (Japanese)
http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/sm/gkj/index.htm
〇International Schools
・Hokkaido International School (English)
http://home.his.ac.jp/
■Educational Counseling
・Providing phone counseling 24 hours a day for parents and students dealing with bullying, truancy, etc.
＜Related Organizations＞
●Processing and general inquiries
・Hokkaido Child Counseling Support Center (Japanese)
http://www.dokyoi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/hk/ssa/ijimedenwasoudan.htm
TEL：0120-3882-56（Toll-free）