As the declining birthrate continues, issues regarding class organization in elementary and junior high schools are emerging. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) set the standard size for elementary and junior high schools at 12 to 18 classes; effectively, this means that if a school drops to having only one class per grade level (from first to sixth grade in elementary school), it is expected to merge with another school. Following MEXT’s call for municipalities to consider such consolidations, mergers are proceeding across the country. An increasing number of towns and villages now have only one elementary school and one junior high school each. However, as the birthrate continues to fall, it is becoming difficult for individual towns and villages to manage these consolidations on their own. In 2009, the three municipalities of Wazuka Town, Kasagi Town, and Minamiyamashiro Village in Kyoto Prefecture established a joint board of education. Through this joint board, they pool financial contributions to operate three elementary schools and two junior high schools. With the trend of a declining birthrate showing no signs of stopping, it is becoming increasingly difficult for individual villages to sustain their own junior high schools, leading to a rise in cases that they merge with junior high schools in neighboring towns.
In recent years, there has been growing concern regarding a decline in the academic proficiency of children in Japan. The National Assessment of Academic Ability and Learning Situation for the 2025 academic year was conducted in April, targeting sixth-grade elementary students and third-year junior high students. Results in Japanese and arithmetic/mathematics showed a downward trend in average correct answer rates. Notably, the score for mathematics among third-year junior high students dropped from 53.0% in the previous year to 48.8%. It is against this backdrop of challenges that the consolidation of public elementary and junior high schools is moving forward. Naturally, to ensure these consolidations succeed, MEXT has released a report revising its guidelines on the merger and closure of public elementary and junior high schools. The guidelines were revised based on several key perspectives: ① expanding the scope to involve neighboring municipalities (“regionalization”); ② encouraging the entire local government—including executive departments—to consider the future; and ③ modernizing practices to account for developments such as the digitalization of education. Recommended models include arrangements that multiple municipalities form administrative associations or utilize “wide-area union” systems, as seen in places like Wazuka Town, Kasagi Town, and Minamiyamashiro Village.
An even more challenging issue lies in securing teachers and enhancing their skills. Japanese education has long enjoyed a strong international reputation, yet it is currently facing a crisis. Historically, teacher training in Japan has relied heavily on the actual school environment; the world-class quality of Japanese education was built upon veteran teachers providing both overt and subtle guidance to inexperienced newcomers. However, while educational environments and compensation packages have remained stagnant, veteran teachers are now facing excessive workloads, leading to exhaustion among the most capable educators. Today, children are expected to develop the ability to tackle challenges proactively. Effectively supporting these children requires high teacher competence; teachers must go beyond merely instructing students—they must also act as learning professionals who continuously learn through reflection and deep consideration of their own practices. When consolidating or merging schools, it is essential to exercise wisdom that comprehensively considers children’s growth, the enhancement of teacher skills, and the advancement of the local economy and culture.
