Tokyo, May 10 (Jiji Press)–The Diet, Japan’s parliament, enacted Friday a bill aimed at making preschool education free of charge, a key policy of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The bill to revise the child care support law was adopted by a majority vote at a plenary session of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, with support mainly from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, as well as the opposition Democratic Party for the People.

The bill passed the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, on April 9.

Under the revised law, education and day-care service fees for children aged between 3 and 5 at certified nurseries and some kindergartens will become free of charge from Oct. 1 for all households regardless of their income levels.

The free preschool education program also covers zero- to two-year-olds from low-income families that are given residential tax exemption.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]