One in Ten High School Students Now in Correspondence Courses: The Era of 'Daily Attendance' is Over. Redefining 'New Ways of Learning' at University.

## News Overview
Toita Women's College (Minato Ward, Tokyo) is set to introduce a new learning system called the 'Smart Custom-made College' (abbreviated as 'Sma-Care') starting from the 2027 academic year, which allows students to start by attending classes just three days a week. This new educational model aims to meet the needs of students who want to continue their studies at their own pace and transition smoothly into social life, against the backdrop of a surge in the number of students entering correspondence high schools.

Under this system, the college provides a curriculum that allows students who feel anxious about the 'simultaneous attendance and daily attendance' required from the start of university to aim for graduation in two years, beginning with three days of attendance per week. These three days serve as a 'runway period' for students to get used to university life.

## Background and Challenges
According to the School Basic Survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (preliminary values for fiscal 2025), the number of students in correspondence high schools reached 305,221, and the number of schools reached 332, both marking record highs. It is estimated that about one in ten high school students is enrolled in a correspondence school. The reasons for choosing correspondence high schools are diverse; while concerns about relationships and health account for over 40% of the choices, there is also a need to study favorite fields deeply. What these students have in common is the fact that they chose to 'learn at their own pace.'

However, higher education institutions, which are the destinations after high school, still presuppose a system design of 'daily attendance and simultaneous class attendance.' It is easy to imagine that high school students who have spent their time grasping their own pace would be bewildered by environmental changes and gaps after entering higher education.

## Purpose and Function of the System
In 2024, an incident occurred at our university where a student from a correspondence high school dropped out, leaving behind the words, 'I tried too hard.' It seems she felt her limit as a result of continuing to match the pace of daily attendance. Our faculty and staff concluded that what is needed is not a premise of being able to adapt perfectly from the beginning, but rather an environment where one can get used to university life little by little.

The main features of 'Sma-Care' are as follows:
- Flexible change system: If you gain confidence in commuting, you can increase your attendance frequency midway.
- Graduation in two years with three days of attendance per week: You can use the remaining two days for rest, hobbies, or social activities.
- Peace of mind even in an emergency: We have established a system that allows graduation in up to three years.

## Outlook for the Future
As the number of university students increases, we are in an era where system designs premised on 'diverse ways of learning' are required. 'Sma-Care' is not just a system to reduce the number of school days, but an important turning point for universities to play the role of connecting students to society. We will transform from a university that only fits 'people who can attend every day' to a university where diverse students can continue their learning.