Japan's new system for tracking teachers' sex offense records leaves major loopholes, excluding crimes like stalking and underwear theft. Experts warn that the framework, modeled after the U.K.'s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), may fail to fully prevent offenders from returning to classrooms. The issue gained public attention following the arrest of an assistant teacher in Fukuoka Prefecture earlier this month.
The Japanese government's plan to tighten background checks on prospective teachers for records of sexual offenses still leaves major loopholes. Certain crimes such as stalking and stealing underwear will remain outside the system's scope. The framework is modeled after the U.K.'s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), but experts warn it may fail to fully prevent offenders from returning to classrooms.
The new system excludes offenses like stalking, as well as cases that end without indictment because the crime is deemed minor or a settlement is reached with the victim. This raises concerns about child safety in schools, with specialists calling for a more comprehensive approach to protect children from potential abuse.
Public attention to the issue intensified after police in Fukuoka Prefecture arrested 66-year-old assistant teacher Masahito Kondo earlier this month. Kondo was detained for submitting a forged copy of a teaching license when applying for a job in the town of Sue. Keywords associated with the story include teachers, child abuse, sex crimes, Fukuoka, schools, education, and children.
These gaps in the system could undermine trust in educational environments, highlighting the need for robust safeguards against sex-related offenses in teaching roles.