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200 Public School Teachers in Japan Punished for Sexual Abuse

By on December 22, 2021

Japan’s education ministry revealed on Tuesday that a total of 200 teachers at public schools (fiscal year 2020) were subjected to disciplinary action for sexual abuse.

Although the annual figure fell from 273 in fiscal 2019, the second largest on record, the number has stayed above 200 for the eighth straight year.

The ministry said “Countermeasures that have been put in place were effective to some extent, but the latest figure was still high, so the situation is regrettable.”

Ninety-six teachers were punished in 2020 for obscene acts committed against students even at their own schools. The number has dropped in 2020 from 126 of the previous fiscal year.

While Japan’s education ministry orders schools to dismiss teachers when they commit obscene acts against students, five out of the 96 cases were merely ‘suspensions’.

The ministry for the first time looked into whether criminal complaints are actually being filed. It found that in 39 of the 200 cases, the victims or their parents chose not to file a complaint with law enforcement authorities.

No judgment was made as to whether a criminal complaint should be filed or not in 28 of the cases.

The ministry said it wants schools to adhere to taking necessary action in coordination with law-enforcement authorities.

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