TOKYO -- Children from financially struggling families are more likely to feel that school is not fun, a survey of some 6,000 parents and children from impoverished households has found.

Usnova, a Tokyo-based public interest incorporated foundation working to alleviate child poverty, conducted the survey in November and December 2023, targeting a total of 14,845 families, including those on public assistance and those exempt from residential taxation, that had received school enrollment support or other benefits from the group. Valid responses were received from 4,012 guardians and 1,862 children and youth. The average annual household income of those parents was 1.78 million yen (about $11,400), and 74.1% of the respondent families had less than 500,000 yen (roughly $3,200) in savings.

Usnova announced the survey results during an online press conference on Nov. 13, and called on the national government to take countermeasures, saying, "Children from impoverished families have low comprehension of classes, have no place at school, and are lethargic."

In a question to elementary and junior high school students, 81.9% of overall children answered that they felt or had felt in the past that their lives were financially difficult. The percentage rose to 88.3% among children who answered that school was "not fun at all" and 85.1% for those who said school was "not much fun." In addition, 20% of elementary school students and 40% of junior high school students said they did not understand classes.

When parents were asked if there was someone they could turn to in times of trouble, 41.7% of all respondents answered "no." The percentage was 33.9% of those with annual household incomes of 3 million yen (approx. $19,000) or more, 39.6% for those with annual household incomes of 2 million to 2.99 million yen (about $13,000 to $19,000), and 45.2% of those with annual incomes of less than 2 million yen. These figures indicate that the lower the annual income, the more likely the guardians had no one to rely on.

In addition, the psychological stress index of parents was apparently higher for families with lower incomes. They also had more experiences of feeling that they did not want to go to government offices as much as possible even if they wanted to ask for help, or of their children giving up going to cram school and celebrating birthdays among other things for financial reasons. Usnova analyzed that "The lower the household income, the higher the degree of 'poor relationships' and 'poor opportunities' for children tend to be."

Usnova's representative director Koji Ogawa said in the press conference, "We would like to ask the central government for a support system for single parents to make up child care expenses, which some local governments are implementing, and for an increase in the child rearing allowance. Since many children from families in poverty are unable to understand classes, a fundamental review of public education is required in the first place."

(Japanese original by Sahomi Nishimoto, Tokyo City News Department)