Japan's declining birth rate has ignited discussions around the challenges facing higher education institutions, potentially leading to the closure of some universities.
The country's fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.2 last year, while individuals aged 65 and older now make up 30 percent of the population, marking Japan as a super-aged society.
This demographic shift has raised alarms within Asia's second-largest economy, with outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prioritizing this issue on a national level. The Japan Association of National Universities has reported that the financial stability of the country's colleges is "facing a critical limit" due to declining enrollment.
In response, a task force from the Central Council for Education, which advises the Japanese Education Ministry, has been holding meetings on monthly basis to address the implications of the falling birth rate on the future of higher education.
A recent draft report from the council's subcommittee on universities reveal that the number of 18-year-olds in Japan will decrease to approximately 820,000 by 2040, Enrollment in colleges is expected to drop to 5,10,000 by 2040, down from 6,30,000 in 2023.
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