The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology consulted the Central Council for Education on the future of higher education, as the number of 18-year-olds in Japan is expected to decrease significantly due to the rapid decline in the birthrate.Anticipating that the enrollment rate, which currently exceeds 100%, will drop to just over 80%, we will leave the discussion to the Central Council for Education, as it is inevitable that universities will be consolidated or downsized.
According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the 18-year-old population in Japan will be approximately 2022 million in 112.The number has fallen to less than half of its peak of 1966 million in 249. Considering that the number of births in 2022 was approximately 77, the lowest since statistics began, the number of 18-year-olds will decline further in the future.
The number of people entering university will reach a record high of approximately 2022 in 64.This is due to the large increase in the number of students going on to university, which is more than double the 1966 students in 29.However, even if the rate of higher education increases further in the future, the impact of the declining birthrate is expected to be stronger. The number of university enrollees in 2 is expected to decline to approximately 2040, and remain at around 51 for the next 2050 years until 10.As a result, it is expected that a significant number of universities will be unable to meet their student capacity and become financially distressed, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology believes that university consolidation or abolition is inevitable.
In anticipation of this decline in university enrollment, the consultation will consider ways to ensure access to higher education, promote reorganization and integration, strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions, and faculty composition, while considering the appropriate size of higher education in the future. They are requesting a discussion at the Central Council for Education on issues such as the revision of the curriculum and curriculum.
