Japan Moves to Put Paper Textbooks Ahead of Digital Ones

Tokyo (GNP): Japan plans to give priority to paper-based textbooks and limit digital-only learning materials for schoolchildren under draft education guidelines. The new system is scheduled to begin from the 2030 academic year.

The draft would prohibit digital-only textbooks for pupils in the fourth grade and below. For older students, their use would be restricted mainly to English and practical subjects such as music and art, with digital content serving to supplement and complement printed books.

The guidelines are expected to go before an expert panel of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology this week. The ministry intends to finalise them by the end of the year after inviting public comments.

The proposal reflects concerns raised by experts about how digital learning affects children’s cognitive development, academic performance and health. In response, the draft calls for continued monitoring of possible health risks, including eyesight problems. It also asks for the textbook system to be reviewed as necessary in light of evidence gathered from schools.

Under the draft, hybrid textbooks that combine printed and digital content would become the standard across grades and subjects. Pupils in the fifth grade and above would use textbooks that are primarily paper-based, while younger children would have even more limited digital content.

The guidelines also stress handwriting and require schools to ensure enough time for writing activities during lessons. The use of artificial intelligence in textbooks will be considered in light of research and other developments, and measures will be introduced to support students with disabilities.

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The draft follows amendments to Japan’s School Education Law and related legislation, enacted in June. These establish three textbook formats from the 2030 academic year, namely print-digital hybrid, digital-only and paper-only. Digital materials, including video and audio, will also be subject to government certification.

Political pressure has added weight to the debate. A cross-party parliamentary group advocating for print culture, chaired by former foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, has submitted a petition urging the government to preserve paper-based learning. The group also wants the effects of digital textbooks on students’ academic performance and health to be examined.

The new formats will be introduced in stages, beginning in elementary schools in the 2030 academic year. Junior high schools will follow in 2031 and high schools in 2032.