Tokyo, May 25 (Jiji Press)–Over 80 pct of city and ward mayors in Japan are cautious about or oppose a proposal to introduce September school enrollment in the country next year, a survey showed Monday.

The result of the survey by the Japan Association of City Mayors was shared at a meeting of a task force set up by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The survey was carried out last week, covering 815 city and ward mayors across the country. Of them 70.7 pct gave answers.

Some supporters suggested that September enrollment would help eliminate gaps in education stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

Others, however, claimed that educational personnel have no energy left to discuss the new system amid the virus crisis.

A survey by the National Association of Towns and Villages also found that some 80 pct of town and village mayors in the country disagreed with the introduction of September school enrollment next year.

At the LDP meeting attended by over 100 lawmakers, many of them called on the government to take a cautious approach to September school enrollment. The task force will draw up a proposal on the matter early next month.