Where did all the students go?

Japan's schools continue to close, following the trend of Japan's population. Depressing maybe?

公立学校、11年度は474校が廃校 少子化で

2012/9/14 21:49

文部科学省は14日、2011年度に全国の公立学 校474校が廃校になったと発表した。少子化によ る児童・生徒数の減少が原因としている。廃校 数は10年度の559校より85校減ったが、03年度 以降、毎年度400校を超えている。内訳は、小学 校323校、中学校93校、高校50校、特別支援学 校８校だった。

都道府県別では北海道が51校で最多。次い で、熊本36校、鹿児島26校などが多かった。神 奈川と佐賀は１校もなかった。今年５月１日時 点で、在学者がいないため休校になっているの は435校だった。

1992年度の調査開始からの廃校数は、 計6834校。都道府県別では北海道の760校が最 多だった。次いで東京389校、新潟303校と続い た。32校の滋賀が最も少なかった。

2002年度以降に廃校となり建物が残ってい る4222校のうち、公民館やスポーツセンターな どに利用されているのは70.2％だった。〔共 同〕

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG1404H_U2A910C1CR8000/

474 public schools close in 2011 due to low birth rate

The Ministry of Education reported on the 14 th that 474 publicly established schools closed in 2011 nationwide. The primary cause is the decrease in student population due to the low birth rate. This was a decrease from 2010 when 559 schools closed but since 2003, more than 400 schools have closed every year. The breakdown is 323 elementary school, 93 middle, 50 high schools, and 8 specialized assistance schools.

Broken out by prefecture, Hokkaido had the most at 51. Next was Kumamoto at 36, followed by Kagoshima with 26. Kanagawa and Saga each had only 1 closure. As of May 1 st of this year, 435 school were temporarily closed due to lack of students.

Since this research began in 1992, 6834 schools have closed. By prefecture, Hokkaido has the most closures at 760, followed by Tokyo with 389, Nigata with 303. Shiga Prefecture has had the least closures with 32.

Since 2002, the number of closed schools with facilities still standing is 4222, and of those 70.2% are currently being used as community centers and sports centers.