Japan intends to limit the use of exclusively digital textbooks in schools, according to draft education guidelines. The proposed rules would ban such materials for students in the fourth grade and below.
Students in the fifth grade and older may still use digital-only books, primarily for practical subjects like art, music, and English. Print-based learning will remain the core of the curriculum as the government prepares to roll out new textbook formats starting in 2030.
Digital content is intended to serve as a supplement to traditional lessons rather than a replacement. The draft emphasizes the necessity of handwriting and requires teachers to allocate specific time during class for students to write.
Authorities plan to track how digital materials affect student health, specifically eyesight, and overall academic performance. Legislative changes from June established three distinct categories for textbooks: paper-only, digital-only, and hybrid formats.
The education ministry will seek public feedback before it finalises the guidelines by the end of the year. Elementary schools are scheduled to receive the new formats in 2030, followed by junior high schools in 2031 and high schools in 2032.
