Identifying factors affecting the misplacement of Brazilian children in special education classes within the Japanese school system: How can educational policy help to address the issues raised?

In light of the recent contention arising over the likely misplacement of children of Brazilian immigrants in Japanese special education classes, this study aims to identify specific problems that may exist regarding the placement process as well as the factors that may contribute to it so that appropriate policy can be developed. The measurement tool, consisting of in-depth interviews with 21 stakeholders including Japanese nationals and Brazilian immigrants, followed the tenets of Constructivist Grounded Theory. From the discourse, five main factors of import affecting the decisions of stakeholders emerged: Linguistic and Cultural Related Misunderstandings of Information, Limitations Concerning Counseling and Life-Educational Planning, Requests for Improving the Support System for Non-Japanese Students, Importance of a Second Opinion, Cultural and Linguistic Effects when Evaluating Non-Japanese Students. The study provides policy recommendations aimed at improving the support system for immigrant communities who face a variety of stresses living in an unfamiliar culture.