National News

Yokohama clears out nursery waiting lists

音声ダウンロード

Officials at Yokohama City Hall said May 20 the city has reduced the number of children on nursery school waiting lists to zero as of April 1, meeting its 2010 target of doing so in three years.

City officials credited the reduction of the lists, which in 2010 reached 1,552 children aged under 5 — the longest of any municipality in Japan — mainly to efforts to increase the number of nursery schools by aggressively encouraging private companies to enter the business.

The city also promoted nonregistered day-care facilities that met the city's standards, which are somewhat more relaxed than the national standard. (Kyodo)

横浜市、待機児童問題を解決

保育所の待機児童が全国最多だった横浜市が、保育所に入れない児童がゼロになったと発表した。民間企業の参入を奨励して、認可保育所を増設したことなどによる。

The Japan Times ST: May 31, 2013