The Japanese government plans to completely abandon traditional paper textbooks in schools in the coming years and fully digitize the educational process. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to the decision announced on September 24, starting from the 2030 fiscal year, textbooks in public elementary schools will be provided only in digital format. This was reported by Kyodo News.
In the amendment approved by the working group of the Japanese Ministry of Education, local education boards will be allowed to accept only digital textbooks. The use of paper textbooks alongside digital ones or linking them together will not be permitted.
According to the Central Council on Education, this innovation will expand students' options for choosing textbooks and facilitate learning aligned with the digital nature of society. Additionally, the new system will help develop interactive and creative teaching methods.
However, some experts warn that using digital textbooks may impose additional burdens on teachers and publishers and could negatively affect students' vision and health. The new system will provide access to digital textbooks and study guides via QR codes in the textbooks.
The working group is striving to ensure content quality and develop specific guidelines for each subject. The ministry plans to prepare instructions and manuals to effectively use digital materials in classrooms.
Digital textbooks are already used in Japanese schools as alternative study guides, which do not require separate government approval. The new system aims to transition fully from traditional textbooks to a digital system and to develop the educational process through innovative methods.
