Japan has officially allowed the use of electronic textbooks in teaching after the National Assembly passed amendments to the School Education Law and related regulations.
At the plenary session of the Japanese Senate, the legislature passed a new legal framework, ending the situation where electronic textbooks are only considered supplementary materials. According to new regulations, electronic textbooks are eligible to be distributed free of charge to students in public primary, secondary and high schools.
According to the approved mechanism, local education councils will decide on the type of textbooks to be used in schools under their management. Options include traditional printed books, electronic books, or a combination model of printed and electronic versions.
The deployment of electronic textbooks as official teaching materials is expected to begin as early as February 2030. Before that, these materials will have to go through the government's appraisal process in fiscal year 2028.
Electronic textbooks are considered to have an advantage in supporting students to absorb knowledge through image, sound and video content. These tools can help children understand lessons better than traditional methods.
However, the expansion of the use of e-books also raises concerns about the impact on students' health. Some opinions suggest that frequent exposure to screens can cause problems such as vision impairment.
Faced with these concerns, the Japanese Ministry of Education plans to develop guidance on the use of electronic textbooks as early as this fall. According to people knowledgeable about the issue, the guidance will support schools and localities to deploy new forms of learning appropriately.
The legalization of electronic textbooks marks a remarkable change in the Japanese education system, when digital materials are for the first time recognized as an official option alongside traditional printed textbooks.
