In the Japanese city of Kumamoto, a local training district is planning to tackle the issue of low attendance in schools with a unique solution – the use of robots. These robots will provide a “television presence” by allowing students to attend classes virtually alongside their peers.
According to Japanese media reports, these robots are equipped with a wheeled base and a table on a long rod. Students will be able to control the movements of the robots from home and participate in class through video chat.
The introduction of these robots is an innovative measure aimed at addressing the growing problem of low attendance in Kumamoto’s schools. Statistics show that in 2022, 2,760 students in primary and secondary schools in Kumamoto did not attend classes. This number has been increasing since 2018 when there were 1,283 cases of absenteeism among children of primary and secondary school age.
Prior to this initiative, the district had already taken steps to improve the situation by offering online concessions, which reportedly helped reduce social anxiety and increase students’ self-esteem. However, the district representatives have decided to take it a step further.
The implementation of this robot program will be gradual. In November of this year, only two robots will be launched for the entire Kumamoto district. These devices will allow students to attend classes remotely for various reasons, such as illness or mental health issues, enabling them to communicate and collaborate with their peers without leaving their homes.
A “Sixness Verification” control experiment is scheduled for March next year. If the system proves to be effective before that time, the number of robots will likely be significantly increased. In the future, this system could serve as a “socialization bridge” between online and offline classes, helping students adapt to the realities of school life.
The introduction of new technologies into the educational process always carries some risks, but it will be fascinating to observe the outcomes of this Japanese initiative. It is possible that this innovation will yield positive results and even open a new chapter in the history of distance education. Only time will tell.