Japanese city to use AI to predict seriousness of school bullying
A western Japan city said Friday it plans to use artificial intelligence to predict the seriousness of suspected school bullying cases, in what will be the first such analysis by a municipality in the country.
A western Japan city said Friday it plans to use artificial intelligence to predict the seriousness of suspected school bullying cases, in what will be the first such analysis by a municipality in the country, Kyodo reports.
Through an AI theoretical analysis of past data, we will be able to properly respond to cases without just relying on teachers' past experiences," Otsu Mayor Naomi Koshi said regarding the planned analysis beginning from the next fiscal year starting April.
AI will be used to analyze 9,000 suspected bullying cases reported by elementary and junior high schools in the city over the six years through fiscal 2018. It will examine the school grade and gender of the suspected victims and perpetrators as well as when and where the incidents occurred.
Statistical analysis of the data is expected to help local authorities and teachers to identify forms of bullying that tend to escalate in seriousness and require particular attention, said the Otsu city education board in Shiga Prefecture.
The AI analysis will also look at other factors, such as school absenteeism and academic achievement, and the findings will be compiled into a report for use by teachers and in training seminars.
Bullying may start from low-level friction in relationships but can get worse day by day. It is important to know which cases have a tendency to become serious," an official of the education board said.
The Otsu city education board came under fire over the handling of a bullying case involving a 13-year-old junior high school student, who jumped to his death from the condominium building where he lived in 2011.
The board initially found no connection between the suicide and bullying, but some students were later found to have stated in a school survey that the boy was told to "practice killing himself." An independent committee set up by the Otsu city government attributed the suicide to bullying in a report issued in 2013.
The case led Japan to enact a law the same year obliging schools to set guidelines to prevent bullying. In Otsu, schools are required to report all possible bullying cases to the city education board within 24 hours.
Elementary, junior and senior high schools in Japan reported more than 410,000 cases of bullying in fiscal 2017. Ten of the 250 students who committed suicide had been bullied at school, according to education ministry data.
Source: Kazinform News Agency
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Kazakhstan Took Part in the 2nd Ministerial Meeting on Strategic Dialogue "Central Asia - Gulf Cooperation Council"
Images | Kazakh MFA
The 2nd Ministerial Meeting on Strategic Dialogue "Central Asia - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)" took place in Tashkent, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
Kazakhstan delegation was headed by Alibek Bakayev, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
During the event, the countries of Central Asia and GCC discussed the state and prospects of interregional cooperation, as well as current issues of the international agenda.
Kazakh diplomat, in his statement noted the huge potential of this dialogue platform and made specific proposals for increasing cooperation in the trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, scientific and technological fields.
In this context, Alibek Bakayev emphasized the importance of strengthening trade relations between the two regions and invited the Gulf States to take an active part in the implementation of joint investment projects in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.
In addition, the head of the Kazakh delegation voiced Kazakh initiatives such as expansion of the activities of the Islamic Organization for Food Security and use of the potential of the International Technopark of IT startups "Astana Hub" and organizing of the 5th World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan in September this year.
Concluding the meeting parties adopted Joint Statement, which aimed at strengthening comprehensive cooperation in key areas between the two regions.
It is worth mentioning that the "Central Asia - GCC" dialogue platform was launched in 2022. The First Ministerial Meeting took place in September 2022 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, while the First Summit of this platform was held in July 2023 in Jeddah, with participation of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Strengthening Cooperation between Kazakhstan and South Africa Discussed at MFA
Images | Kazakh MFA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of South Africa to the Republic of Kazakhstan Kiitumetzi Siipilo Tandeka Matthews, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Alibek Bakaev underscored the significance of advancing Kazakh-South African relations amidst the increasing role of the African continent on the global affairs.
South African Ambassador Matthews expressed confidence in the continued enhancement of mutually beneficial collaboration between Astana and Pretoria.
Both parties delineated plans to broaden comprehensive cooperation and reviewed the schedule of forthcoming visits and events at the high and highest levels.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States Interested in Cooperation with Kazakhstan
Images | Kazakh MFA
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium, Margulan Baimukhan, met with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During the meeting, the diplomats discussed the prospects of expanding co-operation between Kazakhstan and the OACPS.
The Secretary General spoke about the experience of cooperation between the countries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union.
At the same time, they discussed opportunities for co-operation between OACPS member countries and Kazakhstan in trade, exports of Kazakh agricultural products, higher education, culture and sports.
The parties also discussed priorities on the Kazakh-European track, as well as cooperation of Central Asian countries with the institutions of the European Union.
In turn, the Secretary General of the OACPS noted the active role of Kazakhstan in the international arena, regional context, security issues and confirmed the readiness to further deepen cooperation.
Separately, the Secretary General expressed words of support and sympathy in connection with floods in the regions of Kazakhstan.
Kazakh diplomat invited Georges Rebelo to participate in the upcoming Astana International Forum, scheduled for 13-14 June 2024.
The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States was established in 1975, with headquarters in Brussels, with one of its main objectives being to coordinate economic relations between OACPS countries and the EU. Comprised of 79 Member States from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.