Approximately 70 children who do not attend school currently attend AOi School, operated by Odakyu Electric Railway, which provides a place for them centered on railways. The backdrop is a nationwide increase in school nonattendance to a record high, increasing the need for places to learn outside school.
AOi School is a facility established by Odakyu Electric Railway as a place for children and students who do not attend school. It aims to provide a space where children can interact through their shared interest in railways.
Approximately 70 students, primarily from elementary through high school, are enrolled, creating opportunities for interaction across differences in local area and learning style.
A survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology found that the number of elementary and junior high school students not attending school alone exceeded approximately 350,000 in 2024, a record high. Creating places outside school to address nonattendance has become a social issue. AOi School's efforts are being presented as one example of such a place.