Japan to Expand Public High School Funding Starting in Fiscal 2027

The central government plans to launch a new subsidy program from fiscal 2027 onward to support public high schools nationwide. The education ministry plans to expand financial support for prefectural governments to help make public high schools more attractive to students.

The initiative comes after private high school tuition has effectively been made free from the current fiscal year from April.

That change has fueled concerns over a potential fall in applications to public high schools, which are established and operated by prefectural governments. In response the central government set up a fund of about ¥300 billion under the supplementary budget for fiscal 2025, which ended in March.

It also plans to launch a new subsidy program from fiscal 2027 onward, Japan Times reported on May 7, 2026.

Public high schools, run by prefectures rather than the national government, now face the prospect of reduced enrollment as families opt for tuition-free private institutions. The ¥300 billion fund created before the end of fiscal 2025 in March is intended to bridge the gap until the permanent subsidy program begins in fiscal 2027.

The education ministry's expanded financial support is designed to counter the competitive pressure introduced by the April policy change on private schools.

Officials hope the additional resources will allow prefectural governments to invest in facilities, programs and staffing that keep public high schools viable options for students nationwide. Japan Times reported the sequence of decisions reflects a rapid policy adjustment following the full funding of private high school tuition.