The Japanese government's policy to offer free tuition has led to concerns about what some critics are calling "public school bullying". Critics allege that this policy unfairly advantages public school students, potentially creating a disparity in educational opportunities. The Japanese Ministry of Education has endeavored to ensure equal access to education, but debate continues about the impact of tuition-free public education on wider society.

In Japan, education equality is highly valued, and the issue of tuition-free public education deeply dividing the society, with arguments that it could widen the gap between public and private school education quality. The concern is that it could inadvertently lead to a form of bullying, with public school students being favored over those in private schooling.

In contrast, countries like the US or EU have varying strategies to fund public education but the notion of tuition-free education is not uniformly applied across all public or private institutions. This opens up a wider debate about the pros and cons of free education and who should bear the cost.