Japanese City To Use Robots To Tackle Rise In Students' Absence From School

A Japanese city plans to use robots to enable pupils to attend classes virtually, as truancy rates surge due to anxiety and bullying.

The idea of having someone else attend school in your place might be attractive to children who have a dislike for school. However, a Japanese city is planning to implement this concept with the intention of encouraging students to return to physical school attendance.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, Kumamoto, a city in southwest Japan, is planning to use robots to facilitate virtual attendance for students, addressing rising truancy rates attributed to issues such as anxiety and bullying.

Robots equipped with microphones, speakers, and cameras will enable two-way communication and are scheduled to be introduced into classrooms in November.