Japan considering paper-digital hybrid textbooks as standard

The education ministry plans to adopt a paper-digital hybrid format as the standard for textbooks in elementary, junior high and high schools from fiscal 2030, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.

The plan calls for placing more emphasis on paper-based materials while giving a supplementary role to digital materials.

The ministry will present the plan as a draft of the education minister’s guidelines on school textbooks to a meeting of an expert panel Thursday, aiming to formalize the guidelines by the end of the year after soliciting public comments.

Under the country’s revised school education law, which was enacted in June, three formats — paper-only, fully digital and paper-digital hybrid — will be allowed for school textbooks from fiscal 2030.

The draft guidelines propose that hybrid textbooks be the standard format for all subjects in all grades in elementary, junior high and high schools, the sources said.

The draft states that hybrid textbooks should mainly comprise paper-based materials for elementary school fifth grade and above, and basically be made up of paper materials with a more limited role for digital materials for fourth grade and below.

The digital-only format should not be used for textbooks for fourth grade and below and should be allowed in limited subjects such as English, music and art for fifth grade and up.

Textbook publishers will choose appropriate formats in accordance with students’ development and subjects based on the minister’s guidelines.

In April, then education minister Yohei Matsumoto told a parliamentary meeting that fully digital textbooks should not be adopted for fourth graders and younger students. He also said that digital-only textbooks should not be allowed for the time being in such subjects as Japanese language, social studies and moral education.