Japan city to use robots to tackle rising school truancy

A city in Japan plans to combat rising truancy rates by using remotely controlled robots to represent students in school, helping them attend classes virtually.

This initiative comes in response to increased truancy caused by anxiety and bullying post-Covid-19.

These self-propelling one meter tall robots can move around the school grounds, participate in events, and promote interaction for socially anxious students.

Truancy reached a record high of 244,940 pupils in fiscal year 2021, and the program is set to launch pending budget approval, offering an alternative learning option for students unable to attend school physically.