Japan City To Use Robots To Tackle Rise In Students' Absenteeism

The prospect of someone else attending school on your behalf might seem like a childhood fantasy. Still, for students in the Japanese city of Kumamoto, this concept is about to become a reality with a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing the alarming rise in truancy rates.

According to reports by the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, Kumamoto, a city nestled in the southwest of Japan, is pioneering the use of robots to facilitate virtual attendance for students, targeting the root causes of absenteeism, which includes anxiety and bullying.

Robotic Revolution in Education

Robots, armed with microphones, speakers, and cameras, are set to revolutionise the way students engage with their physical classrooms. 

The innovative technology will enable two-way communication, with a scheduled implementation date of November. 

The Kumamoto Municipal Board of Education has hailed this initiative as a rarity nationwide. The primary objective is to alleviate anxiety among students planning to return to the traditional classroom setting.

These robots, operated remotely by students from the comfort of their homes, will effectively serve as their avatars in school. 

This groundbreaking approach will allow children to actively participate in classes and engage in discussions with their peers. 

The city of Kumamoto believes that this novel approach will help bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds, ultimately reducing truancy rates.

A Response to the Truancy Epidemic

Like many other countries, Japan has witnessed a surge in absenteeism among schoolchildren in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The reasons for non-attendance are multifaceted, ranging from difficulties fitting into cases of bullying, as highlighted in a government probe. 

In the fiscal year 2021, Japan reported an all-time high of 244,940 truant students at the elementary and middle school levels, according to the latest education ministry survey.

The one-metre tall robots, which are self-propelled, empower students to navigate the school premises independently and even partake in school events, according to local reports. 

Although communicating through these robots is not an exact replication of real-life interactions, it offers a sense of connection to those students who are apprehensive about engaging with their peers.

A Vision for the Future

Kumamoto's ambitious robotic initiative is poised for a potential launch in November, pending budget approval. 

This endeavour comes on the heels of the city's tech-savvy move to introduce virtual classrooms in the "metaverse" as another strategy to combat truancy. 

Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi emphasised the importance of providing alternative educational options for students unable to attend school, stating, "It is extremely important to give pupils unable to go to school more options to study."

In an era where technology is bridging the gap between the physical and virtual realms, Kumamoto's pioneering use of robots in education is a testament to the city's commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind in their pursuit of knowledge and social interaction. 

With November fast approaching, the world eagerly anticipates the impact of this innovative initiative on the future of education in Japan and beyond.

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