Approximately 20,000 students will be granted state-sponsored scholarsips in Japan in 2018. A monthly allowance of ¥20,000 will be provided to students at public universities who live with their parents; ¥30,000 will be given monthly to students of such schools living away from their parents and students attending private universities who live with their parents; and, students at private universities who live away from their parents will receive ¥40,000. As a precursory action, in 2017, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) will give financial support to 2,650 students.
The academic grants, which will be introduced to students from low-income households, are a far-reaching step in aiding citizens to achieve higher education without resorting to student loans and part-time jobs. The education ministry, JASSO and the high schools need to ensure fairness in the criteria on choosing the beneficiaries. The said program, however, is not guaranteed to sufficiently cover the recipients’ needs as there is a constant increase in tuition fees and cost of living.
Vocabulary:
state-sponsored – supported and operated by the government of a state
precursory – initial
grant – a sum of money given by an organization, especially a government, for a particular purpose
far-reaching – having important and widely applicable effects
resort – to do something that you do not want to do because you cannot find any other way of achieving something
True or False:
- About 50,000 students will be granted state-sponsored scholarships in Japan in 2018.
- The scholarships are for students from high-income households.
- 2,650 students will receive financial support from Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) as a precursory action.
- JASSO will take an initial step by granting scholarship to 15,000 students in 2017.
- The education ministry, JASSO and the high schools need to ensure fairness in the criteria on choosing the beneficiaries.
Express your opinion:
- Do you think the Japanese government should increase the number of students to be given scholarship?
- Do you think the monthly allowance that the government plans to give its scholars is enough? Discuss.
- Does having a part-time job greatly affect the performance of a student in school?
- Would you rather work with someone who was a working student or with someone who just focused on his/her studies in college? Discuss.
Defend your argument:
- Do you think academic grants are enough to help students achieve the education they desire?
- Describe the most ideal college scholarship grant in detail.