Education ministry to seek steps to protect schoolchildren from bears

Education ministry has decided to notify school boards nationwide of steps to prevent wild bears from entering schools and to keep children safe while walking to or from school.

An elementary school in Yamagata Prefecture, northern Japan, was forced to cancel classes on Wednesday after a glass door was broken in the morning by a bear.

The steps include locking garbage stations, instructing children not to walk with food, and asking parents or other guardians to drop off or pick up children if bear sightings are reported nearby.

Ministry officials say they will respond quickly to keep schools safe, as bears are now appearing in areas where they have not been seen before.