Japanese Systems to Support Inclusive Education for Children Requiring Medical Care, Current Status of Such Support, and Related Challenges—Based on the Results of Surveys Involving Departments of Education Supporting their Enrollment in General Schools

Based on the results of our surveys involving several municipal departments of education that support the enrollment of children requiring medical care in general schools, this report describes Japanese systems to support inclusive education for these children, the current status of such support, and related challenges. The municipal departments of education that systematically support inclusive education for children requiring medical care began to promote such education in their communities before the initiation of nationwide enrollment support for the children. In addition, their sections in charge of enrollment support also manage affairs related to human rights education, rather than general affairs for special support and education. Such a variation in the sections in charge resulted in differences in the purposes of support. Further nationwide surveys should be conducted to develop universal design principles and comprehensively support inclusive education for children requiring medical care.