Japan eyes enhancing Japanese language support for foreign children

TOKYO - The Japanese government is expected to enhance support for beginner Japanese-language programs for children newly arrived from overseas, as the need for such education grows with the increasing number of foreign residents.

A report by an education ministry's panel of experts, compiled in June, emphasized that the central government should take "a leading role" in enhancing educational standards across the country for children of foreign nationals, such as by creating models for Japanese-language "pre-class" programs and teaching guidelines for them.