Japan Seeks Formula to Tackle Teacher Gap
Japan’s Ministry of Education is planning to launch a new pilot project in fiscal year 2026 aimed at addressing teacher shortages in public schools and easing the excessive workload on existing staff. According to ministry sources, the scheme will see cram school lecturers, retired teachers, and corporate employees holding teaching qualifications but not currently working in the education sector temporarily dispatched to public schools. These temporary teachers will fill posts left vacant due to maternity, childcare, or sick leave.
Data shows that the competition ratio for public school teacher recruitment examinations peaked at 13.3 in fiscal year 2000 before steadily declining to a record low of 3.2 in 2024. In the past, it was common for unsuccessful candidates to work as temporary teachers while preparing for the next exam, but this practice has waned in recent years, making it more difficult for schools to secure temporary staff.
At the same time, an increase in the number of teachers taking maternity and childcare leave has forced existing staff to work longer hours. When replacements cannot be found, other teachers must take on additional teaching duties. Through this project, the ministry aims both to reduce the burden on current teachers and to ensure a more reliable supply of teaching personnel.
The pilot programme will draw inspiration from the United Kingdom’s “supply teacher” system, in which local authorities and private companies dispatch registered personnel to schools as temporary replacements. By identifying problem areas through the model project, the ministry hopes to establish a permanent mechanism capable of quickly filling sudden teacher vacancies.