Local News

The Nishinippon Shimbun conducted a survey of municipal government financial assistance to individual primary school and junior high school students in the Kyushu prefectural capitals and eight designated cities with enhanced authority as of May this year. The survey found that the financial assistance, which is to alleviate the burden of expenditures for such items as school supplies, meals, and school trips, was provided to 15.8% of the students, the highest percentage ever. Those students whose families are already receiving welfare payments were not included. The totals for both Fukuoka and Nagasaki prefectures exceeded 20%.