Over 7,000 public schools in danger of collapse during quakes

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Over 7,000 public schools in danger of collapse during quakes

The Education, Science and Technology Ministry on July 21 announced that 7,498 out of 124,238 school facilities at public elementary and junior high schools, including school buildings and gymnasiums, as at April 1, are in danger of collapse if an earthquake of intensity six occurs.

The former government earmarked a budget of 258.8 billion yen for making school buildings quake-proof, but the Democratic Party of Japan government decided to reduce the budget in the name of trimming an excess budget. This resulted in the completion of quake resistance works in only half of facilities covered in the initial plan.

The Japanese Communist Party, together with grass-roots movements, has requested many times in the national and local assemblies that quake resistance works of school buildings commence immediately. In 2008, a law for the promotion of quake-resistance in schools was enacted with the JCP among the proposers of the bill.

Under the law, the national share of the cost for reinforcement and quake resistance construction in school buildings with a high risk of collapse in an earthquake of intensity over six was increased from one half to two-thirds. But the national allowance has a limitation of three years.

Quake-resistance in school buildings, especially the need to fortify those facilities in danger of collapse in quakes of intensity six and over, is needed now. The Kan Cabinet must include the necessary sum in the next year's budget compilation and extend the temporary legal measure.

- Akahata, July 22, 2010