http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/391589
Monday, November 27, 2006 at 07:02 EST
TOKYO — About 120 people, including non-Japanese residents, discussed and shared problems related to the education of their children, such as bullying in schools and language troubles, at a Tokyo forum Sunday.
Guest speakers reported that about 20 to 30% of the children of so-called "newcomer" foreigners who came to Japan in recent years do not go to school. Journalist Eder Hashizume urged Japan's public schools to improve the language curriculum for non-Japanese students. Tearful women from Brazil and Myanmar called for help to eradicate the bullying of their children at school and criticized teachers for failing to help non-Japanese students in trouble. The event was organized by No Border 2006, a group of volunteers who have formed a network for foreign residents in Japan from different ethnic backgrounds.