The number of children on waiting lists for after-school care facilities in Japan fell by 1,356 to 16,330 as of May 1, marking the first decline in four years, the Children and Families Agency announced on Tuesday. Local governments' efforts to expand capacity are credited for the drop.
Japan's Children and Families Agency announced on Tuesday that the number of children waiting for spots in gakudō hoiku after-school care facilities dropped to 16,330 as of May 1, a decrease of 1,356 from the previous year. This marks the first decline in four years, since 2019.
The reduction stems from local governments enhancing the facilities' capacity to serve more children. Meanwhile, overall registrations for these programs among elementary school students rose by 50,693 to a record 1,570,645.
Among those on waiting lists, fourth graders accounted for the largest share at 5,589, followed by third graders at 3,305 and fifth graders at 2,644.
In a survey by the agency, 59% of parents with children on the lists reported changes to their lifestyles as a result. The agency estimates that registrations will peak at around 1.65 million by about 2030.
To eliminate waiting lists entirely, the agency plans to utilize regular school classrooms and support staff recruitment. These measures aim to better accommodate working parents' needs.