Families of truant children seek support as Zushi moves to free school lunches

As municipalities across Japan move to make school lunches free or reduce costs, parents of children who do not regularly eat school meals because of nonattendance asked Zushi City to change its support rules. Current aid in Zushi is limited to students who attend school, leaving households whose children are absent without the intended financial relief. Petitioners argued that the city should ensure assistance reaches children who are not eating school lunches for reasons such as truancy or school avoidance, and requested revisions so support is based on need rather than attendance.