Alternative Schools and Programs
WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS IN JAPAN?
– Alternative schools can be best defined as schools that aren’t considered as Japanese public or private schools, or even considered as international schools, or ethnic schools.
– They function independently and use their own unique curriculum, structure, and approach to support the students at their school.
– Typically, these alternative schools have a low number of students, as well as a low number of staff.
– Many of them created due to the lack of available options for certain students with unique needs, which includes the population of international students with special needs.
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS FOR DIVERSE NEEDS IN JAPAN:
– Some of these smaller alternative schools are on this list of many schools that are more accommodating to international students with special needs: https://educationinjapan.wordpress.com/resource-room/special-needs/
* Regarding the other alternative schools that are often referred to in online sources, it is of course as always recommended to visit these schools, and see how the school teaches its students in the classroom setting, and then see if the school is a good fit. Outside of Tokyo, there are few options available in terms of alternative schools that aim to accommodate international students with special needs.
LEARNING CENTER AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS:
* There are very few learning centers or after-school programs in languages for students with special needs in languages other than Japanese.
– HOWEVER, in Kobe city, Hyogo prefecture, there is a center that has opened up, called the Kento Center (http://kentocenter.org), that aims to support international students with special needs and can provide a variety of services. To learn more about these services, please check the website with the provided link. This center also provides a very valuable service of consultation and can be contacted by individuals outside of Kobe city. If one is living in Hyogo prefecture, particularly, this center can be provide support and should be contacted.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT JAPANESE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND DIVERSE NEEDS:
– Japanese private schools are usually similar to the public schools, but there are some private schools that exist with their own philosophies and approaches to supporting students with different needs and in different languages.
– The cost of a Japanese private school will generally be around half of what the tuition would be in an international school.
– Certain Japanese private schools have been established with the goal of supporting students with special needs. Perhaps the most specific in this sense is one called Musashino Higashi Gakuen, which is located in Musashino, Tokyo. The school specifically caters to creating a learning environment where students with all different types of learning backgrounds can learn together. While the school does not specifically aim to support students who have different language needs, the learning environment is a unique one that can be looked at, they have a sister school located in Boston, USA as well. Here is a link to their website: https://www.musashino-higashi.org/english.htm
– Another Japanese private school which has many schools located around in Japan, with the main one located in Tokyo, is called Kololo. It has its own unique learning method and caters for students with more intensive special needs. While also once again not specifically set up in any way for students and families with different language needs, it is a unique learning environment that can be considered. The branch located in Okinawa has staff that can speak English, apparently. Here is a link to their website: https://www.kololo.jp/english/
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FREE SCHOOLS IN JAPAN:
– There are also Japanese free schools that exist that can serve different purposes and allow for an environment for a student to interact with other students.
– While not necessarily existing for supporting students with special needs, they do have an open system in which any student can really join and engage in activities and learning with other students. They are schools that are created for students that struggle in the Japanese regular schools for whatever reason.
– Here is more helpful information about these free schools from a Japanese education blog that also has many more useful information: https://educationinjapan.wordpress.com/education-system-in-japan-general/alternative-education-in-japan-introduction/alternative-education-in-japan-the-context-and-the-challenges/alternative-education-in-japan-free-schools/
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING IN JAPAN:
– There is also the homeschooling option for a student in Japan.
– INTERESTINGLY, a homeschooling curriculum, and attendance at a free school could be a combination in which a student can have the opportunity to interact with other students, but also be involved in learning through a curriculum that can allow for opportunities after graduating from the homeschooling curriculum.
– This is an option that is taken by some parents and is certainly one that can be considered if it is felt that there are not enough opportunities available or not any good schooling fit.
– From the same website, here is more information about these homeschooling opportunities for a student with special needs: https://educationinjapan.wordpress.com/homeschooling-afterschooling/homeschooling-your-child-with-special-needs
