Japanese families bear high education cost

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says Japanese families spend more than 30 percent of their income on education. The figure is the third highest among the 31 OECD members for which data are available. The organization released a report based on a survey it carried out in 2009. The report says Japanese families spend 31.9 percent of their income on tuition fees and educational materials from preschools to universities. Central and local governments cover 68.1 percent of all education-related costs. The money is mainly used for teachers' salaries and to maintain facilities. Families in OECD member nations spend an average of 16 percent of their incomes on education. Finland has the lowest amount at 2.4 percent. University of Tokyo Professor Masayuki Kobayashi says parents in Japan traditionally feel a strong sense of responsibility for their children's education. He said Japan will not see an increase in public spending on education until more people think that society as a whole has to make a greater contribution.