(ふとうこう)

ふとうこう
noun
school refusal, truancy
1. school refusal, not attending school
A child or student's extended absence from school, not caused by illness or economic reasons, but typically by emotional, social, or psychological factors such as bullying, anxiety, or difficulty adjusting. A significant social issue in Japan.
息子(むすこ)不登校(ふとうこう)になった。
My son stopped going to school.
不登校(ふとうこう)原因(げんいん)様々(さまざま)だ。
The causes of school refusal are varied.
近年(きんねん)不登校(ふとうこう)児童(じどう)生徒(せいと)(かず)過去(かこ)最多(さいた)更新(こうしん)(つづ)けている。
In recent years, the number of students refusing to attend school has continued to hit new records.

不登校(ふとうこう) is the standard term in Japan for children who do not attend school for extended periods. It is defined by the Ministry of Education as being absent for 30 or more days per year for reasons other than illness or economic hardship.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 不登校(ふとうこう)になる (stop attending school)
  • 不登校(ふとうこう)児童(じどう)/生徒(せいと) (student refusing to attend school)
  • 不登校(ふとうこう)支援(しえん) (support for school refusal)
  • 不登校(ふとうこう)原因(げんいん) (causes of school refusal)

Common causes include bullying (いじめ}), difficulty with peer relationships, academic pressure, and family issues. Japan has developed various support systems including {適応(てきおう)指導(しどう)教室(きょうしつ) (adaptation guidance classrooms) and フリースクール (free schools).