Politics · Japan · 3 hrs ago
Kizugawa school fees went uncollected, leaving millions of yen unpaid
In Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, a former school office worker failed to collect fees for lunches and teaching materials at a municipal elementary school.
The worker handled the school’s accounts alone from 2012 until retiring in March 2025, and did not follow up with families who had not paid.
The unpaid bills left the school short of money to pay suppliers.
The principal learned of the problem in May 2024 but did not report it to the city education board; the principal and the former worker used personal funds to cover some costs.
The reported totals differ: one account says about 46 million yen was covered privately, while another says about 37 million yen, and one puts the overall shortfall at about 54 million yen.
About 8 million yen remains unpaid to the school lunch center and others, according to the city education board, which says it will continue seeking payment from the principal because of the principal’s oversight responsibility.
Kizugawa City’s education board said a former elementary school employee failed to collect school fees and handle accounts, leaving a large shortfall.
The board said the former employee and the school principal used personal funds to cover some unpaid bills without reporting the situation.
Reports differ on the total shortfall and how much was privately covered.
The board says about 8 million yen remains unpaid and is seeking further payment from the principal.
The board said there was no diversion of funds and no effect on educational activities.
- Who
- A former school administrative employee and the school principal; Kizugawa City’s education board announced the findings.
- What
- The former employee failed to pursue unpaid school fees and handle accounting, causing a shortfall. The principal and former employee paid some bills with personal funds.
- When
- The former employee worked at the school from the 2012 school year until retiring in March 2025. The problem was reported to the education board in June 2026.
- Where
- A municipal elementary school in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- The former employee did not pursue payments from parents, and bills to suppliers became difficult to pay. The principal said he did not want to make school operations complicated.
Kizugawa City education board
School principal
Further payment
Kizugawa City education board
The board says the principal had supervisory responsibility and is seeking payment of the remaining amount.
School principal
The principal used personal funds to cover some bills; he said he did not want to make school operations complicated.
Reporting the shortfall
Kizugawa City education board
The board says the unpaid amounts and private payments were not reported to it.
School principal
The principal knew of the situation in May 2024 but did not report it, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.
The former administrative employee began working at the elementary school.
The principal learned of the situation, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.
The former employee retired.
The school lunch center reported unpaid bills to the education board, bringing the problem to light.
The education board announced its findings.
- Former employee’s tenure
- 2012 school year to March 2025
- Shortfall
- About 54 million yen, according to Yahoo! News; about 46 million yen in payments covered privately, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun
- Private payments
- About 37 million yen, according to Yahoo! News; about 46 million yen, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun
- Remaining unpaid
- About 8 million yen, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun
- Location
- Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture
3 sources
What people are saying
did not want to make school operations complicated