Japan’s government has started providing emergency cash assistance to help international students who are having financial issues when they enter the country after restrictions have been eased at the country’s borders.
The aid worth 100,000 yen, which is equivalent to around 860 US dollars, will be given to the students who enter Japan by the end of this month.
Japan to Provide Cash Assistance to Struggling Foreign Students
Japan eased its restrictions on the entry of foreign visitors on March 1 after the coronavirus outbreak, the NHK reported.
The government will also allow more international students to take advantage of the reduced number of business travelers on international flights.
Aside from Japanese students who are suffering from the economic impact due to the pandemic, those from other educational institutions including universities and graduate schools can also apply for the cash handout.
According to Fumio Kishida, Japan’s prime minister, on March 3, the country would create a new scheme to prioritize the welfare and living conditions of foreign students entering Japan.
“It’s extremely important for us to accept foreign students to enhance our nation’s education and research capability and build amicable relations with various nations,” Matsuno said.
Japan is still dealing with the spread of the type Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which has affected 18 of the country’s 47 regions. Officials are hoping that the epidemic will slow down so that the strain on the country’s healthcare system can recover.
The government is expected to provide the students with the money by the end of this month.
Japan had been opening its educational system to foreign students in an effort to boost its skilled workforce, in order to cope with an ageing society. There were more than 310,000 foreign students in Japan in 2019. This figure exceeded the government’s 2020 target of 300,000.
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