Fuji Soft's Educational Metaverse "FAMcampus" Utilized in Nagoya City's Support Program for Students with School Refusal, Full-Scale Operation Begins - Online Field Trips Expanded After Two Years of Demonstration

Nagoya City's support program for students with school refusal, utilizing Fuji Soft Corporation's (Representative Director, President, CEO: Mitsuhiro Murooka) educational metaverse "FAMcampus" and its school refusal support package, will commence full-scale operations in September 2026. This initiative, which follows a two-year demonstration project starting in fiscal year 2024, will continue until March 2029. The program aims to provide a safe space for learning and interaction for students with school refusal in Nagoya City's elementary and junior high schools, supporting their social independence.

Over 350,000 elementary and junior high school students with school refusal, a 12-year consecutive increase

According to a survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) *1, the number of elementary and junior high school students with school refusal reached a record high of 353,970 in fiscal year 2024, marking a 12-year consecutive increase. While MEXT is expanding its support system through measures such as the "School Refusal Support Plan (COCOLO Plan)" to ensure education for all students, providing support to those who are difficult to reach through conventional methods, such as those who find it difficult to go out or have anxieties about interpersonal relationships, remains a significant challenge common to municipalities and educational sites. In Nagoya City, the number of elementary and junior high school students with school refusal in fiscal year 2024 was 6,208 *2.

Established as an effective option for supporting students with school refusal, full-scale operations begin

In March 2024, Nagoya City formulated the "Nagoya HEART Plan," a support measure to ensure diverse learning opportunities for students with school refusal. As part of this plan, the demonstration project "Nagoya Compass Campus," utilizing an educational metaverse, was launched. Fuji Soft provided a "School Refusal Support Package" integrating four key elements: the metaverse space, curriculum, instructors, and school refusal support specialists, thereby establishing an environment that allows for smooth and effective operation of support for students with school refusal.

Based on the positive feedback from both students and guardians during the two-year demonstration, which led to continued usage, and its establishment as a new, safe option for children to participate in learning and interaction, full-scale operations will begin in fiscal year 2026. IDs will be provided for up to 500 students, operating on a five-day-a-week system: three days of classes and two days of self-study. Furthermore, online regional learning classes, which previously connected to real-world locations on an irregular basis, will be expanded to be held regularly three times a year. This will provide students who find it difficult to go out with opportunities to broaden their understanding of their local area and their interest in the outside world.

Aiming for a bright future for children and society

Fuji Soft will continue to engage in supporting students with school refusal using "FAMcampus," and in collaboration with municipalities and educational sites, will contribute to creating a bright future for children and society by providing places and learning options tailored to each child's situation.

*1 Overview of Survey Results on Student Behavioral Issues, School Refusal, and Other Student Guidance Issues in Fiscal Year 2024

https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20260305-mxt_jidou02-100002753_3.pdf *2 Survey Results on Student Behavioral Issues, School Refusal, and Other Student Guidance Issues in Fiscal Year 2024

https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20260116-mxt_jidou02-100002753_1_3.pdf

Nagoya City

https://www.city.nagoya.jp/

Nagoya Compass Campus

Implementation Period: September 2026 to March 2029

Content: Online learning classes focusing on the five core subjects

Special classes tailored to students' interests

Self-study utilizing an online learning system

Online classes for regional learning, connecting with real-world locations via live broadcast (approximately 3 times per year)

Exhibitions showcasing student work and photos from summer vacation memories

A comment was received from the Nagoya City Board of Education.

"In our city, we are implementing support utilizing an educational metaverse to connect students who find it difficult to leave their homes to their next step, which leads to a sense of security for children and their guardians.

The educational metaverse serves as a place for interaction with others while at home, and also functions as a place to learn at one's own pace, making it an effective form of support for students who use it."

Fuji Soft "FAMcampus"

Classes, outside of classes, and individual questions. An educational metaverse where you can feel everyone's presence.

https://www.famcampus.jp/

Support for School Refusal Utilizing Educational Metaverse

https://famcampus.jp/refusal-support/

About the School Refusal Support Package

Supporting school refusal requires not only providing an online space but also establishing a continuous operational system, including securing human resources, daily communication with children, and developing learning and consultation systems.

Fuji Soft offers a "School Refusal Support Package" that combines "Metaverse" as a learning space with "curricula" that consider children's characteristics, "instructors" with expertise, and "school refusal support specialists" who provide support and guidance to children. We provide comprehensive support from planning and system construction to daily operational support.

About Fuji Soft Corporation

Business Description: Total solutions from consulting, development, and system construction to support

URL: https://www.fsi.co.jp/

Fuji Soft is a digital innovation company that creates the future of its customers by integrating AI, IT, and OT, bringing together individual engineering capabilities and advanced organizational strength. Since its founding in 1970, the company has built a track record with embedded/control technologies and solutions optimized for various industries. In the embedded/control field, it has achieved success in advanced areas such as automobiles and robots, and in the solutions field, it has supported business system development and social infrastructure such as government agencies and the power sector. Since 2026, under the new philosophy "To remain an indispensable presence that supports social development and customer value creation," the company offers diverse solutions leveraging its strengths in advanced technology and organizational capabilities in the "Embedded/Control," "Social Infrastructure," and "Solutions" businesses. As a partner in management reform, Fuji Soft continuously challenges innovation and creates the future together with its customers.

* Trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.