Children in
nuclear disaster-hit Fukushima Prefecture are showing reduced physical strength
due to prolonged restrictions on outdoor activities.
The
prefectural government says that following the March 2011 nuclear accident, 465
public schools restricted their students' outdoor activities, fearing radiation
exposure. The number accounts for around 60 percent of all government-run
schools in the prefecture.
Many cut gym
classes on school grounds or shortened outdoor recess periods.
But a recent
survey found that nearly 90 percent of the schools had lifted all such
restrictions.
Prefectural
officials say progress in decontamination work and increasing support among
parents has led to lifting the restrictions.
But a
nationwide assessment of children's physical strength conducted by the
education ministry last year showed that elementary school pupils in Fukushima
scored lower in all categories than in pre-disaster tests.
Another
survey found that the obesity ratio for Fukushima children is higher than the national
average in almost all age brackets.
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