EDITORIAL: Free school education

Just before Diet deliberations begin on a bill to make high school education tuition-free, Hiroshi Nakai, state minister in charge of the abduction issue, asked education minister Tatsuo Kawabata to exclude chosen gakko schools for Korean children in Japan.

North Korea has been developing nuclear arms and missiles, defying international criticism and sanctions. The country has also refused to cooperate with Japan in resolving the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents.

The reason behind Nakai's request appears to be that chosen gakko are under the influence of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), which supports North Korea.

Japan has good reason to take a tough stance toward North Korea and exert the necessary diplomatic pressure. But should education for Korean children in Japan be considered from the same point of view?

Of chosen gakko around the country, 10 are kokyu gakko, the equivalent of high schools. Nearly 2,000 children attend these schools.

Chosen gakko originated in schools that Koreans established to reinstate the use of their native language after the end of World War II.

There was a period when these schools conducted strict ideological education after they came under Pyongyang's influence through Chongryon, founded in 1955.

The content of education, however, has shifted dramatically through generational changes among Korean residents.

Most of the classes are given in Korean. But the curriculum is largely in line with the education ministry's guidelines for Japanese schools, except for some courses, such as the one on Korean history.

A growing number of Koreans send their children to chosen gakko to cherish their own language and culture, even though they do not support the North Korean regime.

There used to be portraits of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder, and Kim Jong Il, his son and the current leader, in all chosen gakko classrooms.

In response to requests from parents, however, the portraits have been removed from schools that correspond to elementary and junior high schools.

Such a trend is expected to only grow stronger.

Chosen gakko are all financially strained. The central government provides no financial aid, although the schools receive local government subsidies.

Parents bear a heavy financial burden as they are asked to make donations on top of the annual tuition of about 400,000 yen ($4,400).

With the free tuition bill, the government aims to create a society in which all high school students can concentrate on studies without worrying about financing.

The bill, approved by the Cabinet last month, covers not only public and private high schools and technical colleges but also various institutions with comparable high school curriculums.

It was assumed that the latter category would include schools for Brazilians, Chinese and Koreans.

Guaranteeing all children the right to learn, including those with foreign citizenship, is a basic principle of the Democratic Party of Japan's education policy. Excluding chosen gakko students, who are members of Japanese society, from the initiative would go against the principle.

On Tuesday, Kawabata said neither diplomatic considerations nor the content of education would be a factor in deciding on eligibility for the program.

We suggest that Nakai visit a chosen gakko with Kawabata.

He would find that students are no different from their counterparts at Japanese schools. They aspire to go on to university, take part in sports and worry about their future.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 24