# 学校教育法 / School Education Act — 第二章 (Chapter 2)

- Law: 学校教育法 (School Education Act), 昭和二十二年法律第二十六号
- English title "School Education Act": Ministry of Justice translation
- Kind: Act — the distinction between 法律 (Act), 政令 (Cabinet Order), 省令 (Ministerial Order) and 条例 (local ordinance) decides who may issue it and what it may say.
- Provision: 第二章 (Chapter 2) — address `ch-2`
- Text in force since: 2026-06-17
- URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/ch-2
- Permanent URL (e-Gov law ID, never renamed): https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/ch-2
- Every provision below carries its address and both URLs on the line under it.
- Japanese text: e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁). English: as marked on each line below.

Only the Japanese as published by the government has legal effect; the text
below is a copy of it. Every English rendering below is a translation and
says which kind: the Ministry of Justice's translation, or this
site's machine translation, whose model and date the Sources list names.
They are never merged and never substituted for one another.

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## 第二章　義務教育 — Chapter II Compulsory Education
<sup>heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>ch-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/ch-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/ch-2</sup>

### 第十六条
<sup>art-16 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-16 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-16</sup>

**第一項**  保護者（子に対して親権を行う者（親権を行う者のないときは、未成年後見人）をいう。以下同じ。）は、次条に定めるところにより、子に九年の普通教育を受けさせる義務を負う。
<sup>art-16/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-16/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-16/par-1</sup>
Custodians (meaning a person who has parental authority over a child (or if there are no persons who have parental authority; a guardian of a minor); the same applies below) have the obligation to have their child receive a nine-year general education, as prescribed in the following Article.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第十七条
<sup>art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17</sup>

**第一項**  保護者は、子の満六歳に達した日の翌日以後における最初の学年の初めから、満十二歳に達した日の属する学年の終わりまで、これを小学校、義務教育学校の前期課程又は特別支援学校の小学部に就学させる義務を負う。ただし、子が、満十二歳に達した日の属する学年の終わりまでに小学校の課程、義務教育学校の前期課程又は特別支援学校の小学部の課程を修了しないときは、満十五歳に達した日の属する学年の終わり（それまでの間においてこれらの課程を修了したときは、その修了した日の属する学年の終わり）までとする。
<sup>art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17/par-1</sup>
Custodians have the obligation to enroll their child in an elementary school, the lower course of compulsory education school or an elementary school course of a special needs education school from the first school year that begins on or after the day following the day that the child reaches six years of age, until the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child reaches twelve years of age; provided, however, that when a child has not completed the program of an elementary school, the lower course of compulsory education school or an elementary school course of a special needs education school by the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child reaches twelve years of age, the period is to be extended until the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child reaches fifteen years of age (when the child completes the program during that period; until the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child completes the program).
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

**第二項**  保護者は、子が小学校の課程、義務教育学校の前期課程又は特別支援学校の小学部の課程を修了した日の翌日以後における最初の学年の初めから、満十五歳に達した日の属する学年の終わりまで、これを中学校、義務教育学校の後期課程、中等教育学校の前期課程又は特別支援学校の中学部に就学させる義務を負う。
<sup>art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17/par-2</sup>
Custodians have the obligation to enroll their child in a junior high school, the upper course of compulsory education school, the lower course of secondary education school, or a junior high school course of a special needs education school from the first school year that begins on or after the day following the day on which the child has completed the program of an elementary school, the lower course of compulsory education school or an elementary school course of a school for special needs education until the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child reaches fifteen years of age.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

**第三項**  前二項の義務の履行の督促その他これらの義務の履行に関し必要な事項は、政令で定める。
<sup>art-17/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17/par-3</sup>
Necessary matters regarding the demand for performance of obligations referred to in the preceding two paragraphs, and other matters regarding the performance of such obligations, are to be prescribed by Cabinet Order.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "Necessary matters regarding the demand for performance of obligations referred to in the preceding 2 paragraphs, and other matters regarding the performance of such obligations, are to be prescribed by Cabinet Order." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4743/tb</sup>

### 第十八条
<sup>art-18 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-18 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-18</sup>

**第一項**  前条第一項又は第二項の規定によつて、保護者が就学させなければならない子（以下それぞれ「学齢児童」又は「学齢生徒」という。）で、病弱、発育不完全その他やむを得ない事由のため、就学困難と認められる者の保護者に対しては、市町村の教育委員会は、文部科学大臣の定めるところにより、同条第一項又は第二項の義務を猶予又は免除することができる。
<sup>art-18/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-18/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-18/par-1</sup>
Pursuant to the provisions provided for in paragraph (1) or (2) of the preceding Article, with regard to children whose custodians are obligated to enroll them in a school (referred to below as "school-aged child" or "school-aged student") but who are deemed to be unable to be enrolled in the school due to health impairment, incomplete growth development, and other unavoidable circumstances, the municipal board of education may postpone or exempt the custodian of such children from the obligation under paragraph (1) or (2) of that Article, as provided for by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第十九条
<sup>art-19 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-19 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-19</sup>

**第一項**  経済的理由によつて、就学困難と認められる学齢児童又は学齢生徒の保護者に対しては、市町村は、必要な援助を与えなければならない。
<sup>art-19/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-19/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-19/par-1</sup>
Municipalities must provide necessary assistance to custodians of school-aged children or school-aged students who are found to encounter difficulties in receiving education for economic reasons.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第二十条
<sup>art-20 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-20 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-20</sup>

**第一項**  学齢児童又は学齢生徒を使用する者は、その使用によつて、当該学齢児童又は学齢生徒が、義務教育を受けることを妨げてはならない。
<sup>art-20/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-20/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-20/par-1</sup>
A person who employs school-aged children or school-aged students must not prevent the relevant school-aged children or students from receiving compulsory education due to such employment.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第二十一条
<sup>art-21 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21</sup>

**第一項**  義務教育として行われる普通教育は、教育基本法（平成十八年法律第百二十号）第五条第二項に規定する目的を実現するため、次に掲げる目標を達成するよう行われるものとする。
<sup>art-21/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1</sup>
The general education that is provided in the form of compulsory education is to be provided with the aim of achieving the following objectives, in order to realize the purposes provided for under Article 5, paragraph (2) of the Basic Act on Education (Act No. 120 of 2006):
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **一**  学校内外における社会的活動を促進し、自主、自律及び協同の精神、規範意識、公正な判断力並びに公共の精神に基づき主体的に社会の形成に参画し、その発展に寄与する態度を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-1</sup>
  promoting social activities inside and outside school, and fostering an attitude of proactive participation in shaping society, and contribution towards the development of it based on a spirit of autonomy, independence and cooperation, normative consciousness, fair judgment and public spirit;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **二**  学校内外における自然体験活動を促進し、生命及び自然を尊重する精神並びに環境の保全に寄与する態度を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-2</sup>
  promoting nature-based experiential activities inside and outside school, and developing a spirit of respecting life and nature, and an attitude of contribution towards the preservation of the environment;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **三**  我が国と郷土の現状と歴史について、正しい理解に導き、伝統と文化を尊重し、それらをはぐくんできた我が国と郷土を愛する態度を養うとともに、進んで外国の文化の理解を通じて、他国を尊重し、国際社会の平和と発展に寄与する態度を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-3</sup>
  fostering a proper understanding of the current state and history of our country and homeland, fostering attitudes of respecting traditions and cultures and loving our country and homeland which nurtured them, while also cultivating of attitudes of respecting other countries and contributing towards peace and development of an international society through a proactive understanding of foreign cultures;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **四**  家族と家庭の役割、生活に必要な衣、食、住、情報、産業その他の事項について基礎的な理解と技能を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-4</sup>
  developing fundamental understanding and skills regarding matters necessary in daily life included in the roles of family and home, clothing, food, housing, information, and industry;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **五**  読書に親しませ、生活に必要な国語を正しく理解し、使用する基礎的な能力を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-5</sup>
  becoming familiarized with reading, and developing fundamental abilities for properly understanding and using Japanese Language necessary for daily life;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **六**  生活に必要な数量的な関係を正しく理解し、処理する基礎的な能力を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-6 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-6 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-6</sup>
  developing fundamental abilities for properly understanding and processing quantitative relationship necessary for daily life;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **七**  生活にかかわる自然現象について、観察及び実験を通じて、科学的に理解し、処理する基礎的な能力を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-7 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-7 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-7</sup>
  developing fundamental abilities for scientific understanding and processing of natural phenomena in daily life through observation and experimentation;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **八**  健康、安全で幸福な生活のために必要な習慣を養うとともに、運動を通じて体力を養い、心身の調和的発達を図ること。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-8 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-8 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-8</sup>
  developing habits necessary for a healthy, safe, and happy life; developing physical strength through exercise, and promoting harmonious mental and physical development;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **九**  生活を明るく豊かにする音楽、美術、文芸その他の芸術について基礎的な理解と技能を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-9 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-9 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-9</sup>
  developing fundamental understanding and skills regarding art forms, including music, art, and literature which brightens and enriches daily life;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **十**  職業についての基礎的な知識と技能、勤労を重んずる態度及び個性に応じて将来の進路を選択する能力を養うこと。
  <sup>art-21/par-1/item-10 · https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-21/par-1/item-10 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-21/par-1/item-10</sup>
  developing fundamental knowledge and skills regarding employment, an attitude of valuing labor, and an ability to make career choices for the future in accordance with individuality.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

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## Cites
- art-16/par-1: 次条 → 学校教育法 第十七条 (Article 17), art-17 — https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17
- art-17/par-3: 前二項 → 学校教育法 第十七条第一項 (Article 17, paragraph (1)), art-17/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17/par-1
- art-17/par-3: 前二項 → 学校教育法 第十七条第二項 (Article 17, paragraph (2)), art-17/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17/par-2
- art-18/par-1: 前条第一項 → 学校教育法 第十七条第一項 (Article 17, paragraph (1)), art-17/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17/par-1
- art-18/par-1: 第二項 → 学校教育法 第十七条第二項 (Article 17, paragraph (2)), art-17/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/school-education-act/art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/322AC0000000026/art-17/par-2
- art-21/par-1: 教育基本法（平成十八年法律第百二十号）第五条第二項 → e-Gov law 418AC0000000120, 第五条第二項 (Article 5, paragraph (2)), art-5/par-2 — not held in this collection

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## Sources

- claude-opus-5-5 — Corrections to the Ministry of Justice's English of paragraphs, written 2026-10-19
- e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 学校教育法 — the text in force from 2026-06-17 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/322AC0000000026/20260617_508AC0000000037), retrieved 2026-10-19
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — School Education Act — Ministry of Justice translation (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4743/tb), retrieved 2026-10-19
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — School Education Act (学校教育法), Article 17, paragraph (3) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4743/tb), retrieved 2026-10-19
- This site's parser, version 210 — 学校教育法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-10-19