Osaka National University of Education Considers Restructuring Affiliated Schools Amid Declining Enrollment

Osaka National University of Education (Kashiwara City, Osaka Prefecture) is evaluating a plan to reorganize its affiliated junior and senior high schools, responding to declining enrollment rates. The university aims to finalize the restructuring plan by the end of fiscal 2026, potentially including the merger of middle and high schools located in Osaka City’s Tennoji and Hirano wards into a new integrated school.

Declining Enrollment and Financial Pressures

Daikyo University, which operates the affiliated schools, cited declining birthrates and falling application numbers as the primary drivers behind the consideration of restructuring. The university currently manages three elementary, middle, and high schools in Osaka City’s Tennoji and Hirano wards, as well as a kindergarten and a special needs school in the Hirano district.

Recent years have seen a decrease in applicants to the affiliated junior high and high schools. Specifically, the Hirano school building’s entrance exam this year experienced a shortfall in applicants compared to its recruitment capacity.

Enrollment Capacity Adjustments

In March of the previous year, Daikyo University announced adjustments to enrollment capacities, effective in 2026 and 2029. The number of students accepted into both Tennoji and Ikeda junior high schools will be reduced from 144 to 108. High school enrollment will decrease from 160 to 120 students starting in 2029.

Impact of Tuition Policies

The decline in applicants is attributed not only to demographic shifts but also to Osaka Prefecture’s initiative to make high school tuition free. The program began phasing in free tuition starting in 2014, with full implementation for all first to third-grade students scheduled for 2026. Data from the prefectural public junior high school principals’ association indicates a growing trend towards private schools, with 29.74% of students choosing private schools as their first preference in the 2016 entrance exam, compared to 25.97% in fiscal year 2014.

Looking Ahead

Osaka National University of Education’s consideration of these changes reflects broader challenges faced by educational institutions in Japan due to demographic shifts and evolving government policies. The final restructuring plan, expected by the end of fiscal 2026, will determine the future of these affiliated schools and their role in the Osaka educational landscape.