Japan Plans to Allow International Students to Return in Phases

Students from outside Japan will be allowed to enter the country in stages, the government has decided. Due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus across the world, on December 1,the government had suspended the entry of non-Japanese students.

Around 100 government-sponsored students will be allowed to enter Japan in February 2022. However, they will be monitored to see how they can avoid getting infected. Since January 2016, the government has suspended the entry of non-Japanese nationals in principle in certain cases.

Currently, the government only allows entry in special cases, such as those involving public interest. Due to the public's interest in international education, the government has decided to allow foreign students to enter under special circumstances.

Also Read: Harvard University Makes SAT and ACTOptional Until2026

This new guideline was based on the belief that allowing foreign students to study in Japan serves the public interest. First, priority will be given to those who are in a tough situation and cannot continue their studies without taking in-person classes at Japanese universities.

Science departments will also be prioritized, as it's believed that conducting experiments in person is very important for students. After they enter Japan, they will be allowed to stay at their chosen educational facilities for 10 days.

Students will also be allowed to attend lectures and other educational facilities after entering Japan. For foreign students, this means they will be able to stay in various hotels or educational facilities for 10 days.

According to the Japan Immigration Services Agency, the number of foreigners who entered the country as students in 2019 decreased to around 9,930.

Also Read:Australia Allows International Students to Work More Hours To Mitigate Staff Shortage

Privately financed students have been the main source of foreign students in Japan in the past. Due to the SARS outbreak, the government has decided to focus on government-sponsored students.

Although the number of foreign students has decreased, the government still suspended their entry to the country for a second time due to an outbreak of the omicron variant.

Source: The Japan News