2000.01.06

Mainichi Shimbun
By Tatsuo Murase

HIRAKATA, Osaka - The nation's first attempt at dispatching private tutors to teach children with Down syndrome has just started here after parents urged special help for their kids.

For Yasuko Sakamaki, one of these parents, the tutoring provided by the Guts Soul Company cram school offers special hope for his 12-year-old son, Yuji.

Yuji, who attends Municipal Nagao Elementary School, was not able to catch up with the regular lessons.

"I hope he will master indispensable knowledge that's useful in everyday life, such as how to tell the time," said Yasuko.

According to the Japan Down Syndrome Association (JDS), there are already special institutions for children with the condition, but there has been no systematic dispatching of private tutors to childrens' homes.

Narihiro Takada, 30, manager of Guts Soul Company cram school, started off last October his business of sending tutors to students who refused to attend school.

The students received private lessons four times a month and were charged a monthly fee of 30,000 yen.

Word of the special lessons has spread to parents of children with Down syndrome.

The parents urged Takada to teach 12 elementary school pupils with the disease.