![[10/19 Education News Top 5] New Standards for Digital Textbooks / Support for School Non-Attendance / 24,000 AI Learning Users / High School Reform / French Education Policy](https://brazingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1019-Education-News-Top-5-New-Standards-for-Digital-Textbooks.jpg "[10/19 Education News Top 5] New Standards for Digital Textbooks / Support for School Non-Attendance / 24,000 AI Learning Users / High School Reform / French Education Policy")
Good morning.
From domestic and international education news, I will introduce five important stories based on their practicality in school settings and their future impact on education.
Today’s common theme is, “Who decides where and how we learn?”
01 | Digital textbooks for fiscal 2030: Videos generally limited to about 3 minutes. MEXT proposes screening standards.
What happened?
On October 13, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) presented its first draft of points for discussion regarding new textbook screening standards, including digital content, at the Textbook Authorization Council.
This is a review for the new system starting in fiscal 2030.
In this proposal, the idea is that videos included in textbooks should generally be limited to about 3 minutes each, with a total time per book capped at 20 to 90 minutes depending on the subject and grade level.
For example, the proposal suggests 20 minutes per book for Japanese and arithmetic/mathematics throughout elementary and junior high school, and 80 minutes for foreign languages from the fifth grade of elementary school onwards.
While videos and audio will also be subject to screening as part of the textbook content, the necessity for learning is being prioritized over increasing the volume of teaching materials.
At this stage, it is a proposal presented to the council, and the final standards have not yet been determined.Education Industry News “ReseEd“
Impact on schools, teachers, and entrance exam operations
When utilizing digital textbooks, it is necessary to design lessons that do not make watching videos the goal itself.
In Japanese class, for example, it is important to ensure time for students to read the text themselves and think about their interpretation after watching reading or explanatory videos.
Digitizing teaching materials and improving the quality of lessons are not the same thing.
Points to watch in the future
How the screening standards for videos, audio, etc., will be finalized.
Also, how textbook companies will structure their digital materials will be worth noting.
MEXT “Regarding Improvements to Textbook Screening: First Draft of Points for Discussion” (2026/10/13)
ReseEd “Digital textbook videos limited to 1 3 minutes” (October 14, 2026)
02 | Yokohama City to provide metaverse learning and a safe space for truant elementary and junior high students. Starts October 20
What happened
Starting October 20, Yokohama City will launch a new learning support project utilizing the metaverse and online tools for elementary and junior high school students who are truant or find it difficult to attend school.
Local media reported in detail on October 15 regarding the project, which was announced by the city on September 29.
The program is open to elementary and junior high school students living in Yokohama.
In the virtual space, students can use avatars to interact and learn at their own pace.
The space will be open three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
There is a limit of 50 concurrent connections, with a maximum of 200 registered users.
The project is operated by guidance counselors and support staff from the City Board of Education.
The goal is not to directly force attendance at school, but to ensure a safe space and learning opportunities where children can feel at ease.Yokohama City
Impact on schools, teachers, and entrance exam operations
In supporting truancy, it is necessary to confirm not only whether students can come to school, but also whether they are able to continue their studies and have opportunities to connect with others.
For junior high schools, it is important to have a system in place to track online learning progress and coordinate with homeroom teachers and support staff at the student’s enrolled school.
Additionally, when treating online learning activities as school attendance, decisions must be made in accordance with national notifications and individual requirements.
Points to watch in the future
The key will be whether the participating students are able to find a safe space where they feel comfortable.
It will also be important to see what effects this has on the continuation of learning and the formation of human relationships.
Yokohama City “New learning and safe spaces starting via metaverse and online” (September 29, 2026)
Town News ‘Yokohama City, Supporting School Non-Attendance in Virtual Space’ (2026/10/15)
03 | Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture, introduces AI learning materials to all 59 elementary and junior high schools. Approximately 24,100 students to use
What happened
On October 14, it was announced that the AI-based learning material ‘Qubena’ has been officially adopted in all 59 municipal elementary and junior high schools in Takatsuki City.
The program targets approximately 24,100 students from first grade of elementary school to third grade of junior high school.
This learning material analyzes students’ answers and proficiency levels to present problems tailored to each individual.
It is designed to identify incorrect answers or areas where understanding is insufficient and provide review problems as needed.
The city expects this to improve basic academic skills and enhance individual instruction by teachers.
Note that this announcement concerns the introduction, and is not a report confirming that academic performance has improved following the implementation.Children and IT
Impact on schools, teachers, and entrance exam practices
AI learning materials can be utilized as a method to support the retention of individual knowledge and skills.
On the other hand, for learning tasks such as Japanese reading comprehension or opinion writing, where multiple interpretations and expressions are valid, dialogue and evaluation by teachers remain important.
The key will be whether AI supporting individual problem practice allows teachers to secure time to check students’ thinking processes.
Points to watch in the future
How academic performance and learning motivation actually change following the introduction of the materials.
It is also necessary to pay attention to whether teachers’ working hours will decrease or if new administrative tasks will increase.
Children and IT‘Takatsuki City, introduces AI-based learning materials’ (2026/10/15)
04 | Kanagawa Prefecture, soliciting opinions on the new high school education reform plan. Until October 28
What happened
Kanagawa Prefecture is currently soliciting public comments on the draft outline of the “Kanagawa Prefecture High School Education Reform Implementation Plan (tentative name).”
The submission period is from September 29 to October 28.
This draft plan is based on the basic policy for high school education reform presented by the national government in February 2026.
It aims to develop an environment where students can learn regardless of their family’s economic situation, while responding to their diverse interests and career aspirations.
The plan will be reviewed based on the opinions received, with publication scheduled for around March 2027.
Currently, it is in the stage of soliciting opinions on the draft outline, and not all specific reform details have been decided yet. Kanagawa Prefecture
Impact on schools, teachers, and entrance exam operations
High school education reform is not just an issue for public high schools.
For private high schools as well, it is important to determine how to highlight their unique educational content and course features.
In high school entrance exam promotion, in particular, it is necessary to explain specifically not only academic achievements but also what kind of learning and experiences students can have after enrollment.
Points to watch in the future
How the opinions from the public will be reflected in the plan.
We also want to pay attention to how the direction of the national government’s high school education reform will spread to the education policies of other local governments.
05 | France announces an increase of 3,000 substitute teachers to improve the educational environment. High school student protests drive policy
What happened
On October 18, the British newspaper The Guardian reported on the background of ongoing protests across Europe and the government’s response.
In France, protests by high school students demanding improvements to the educational environment have been continuing since late September.
The main demands include resolving teacher shortages, improving aging school buildings, reviewing long school hours, and increasing the transparency of university entrance selection.
The government has indicated a policy to increase the number of substitute teachers by 3,000 to address vacancies.
Furthermore, it has announced that it will involve students in school decision-making and withdraw some of the planned increases in university registration fees.
However, these are the response policies presented by the government, and not all measures have been implemented or completed.
Protests have spread from education issues to dissatisfaction with the cost of living and social policy as a whole. The Guardian
Impact on Schools, Teachers, and Entrance Exam Practices
In Japan, too, teacher shortages and the aging of school facilities are significant issues.
It is also necessary to think about mechanisms for students to participate in school management.
Beyond just collecting opinions through student councils or school evaluation surveys, it is important to consider how those opinions are reviewed and reflected in school operations.
Points to Watch in the Future
Whether the increase in substitute teachers and the improvement of the school environment will actually proceed.
Also, attention will be paid to how mechanisms for incorporating student opinions into education policy decision-making will be institutionalized.
The Guardian“Why are people protesting across Europe?” (October 18, 2026)
Today’s 3-Line Summary
① As the institutional development of digital textbooks progresses, it is becoming important to ensure the quality of teaching materials, including video and audio.
② Through support for school non-attendance and the introduction of AI learning materials, the places and methods of learning in schools are diversifying.
③ High school education reform and French education policy highlight the challenge of how to reflect the wishes and opinions of learners in the system.
Today’s Question
Schools have classrooms.
Students go to school.
Teachers conduct classes.
Learning at the same time, in the same place.
This is the basic form of schooling that has continued for a long time.
However, now that it is possible to learn online, what is the relationship between coming to school and learning?
In today’s evening edition, we consider the question, “If you don’t come to the classroom, does it not count as learning?”
Thinking from the classroom.
We are thinking about the future of schools based on domestic and international education news.
Morning | Education news in 5 minutes
Evening | Education essays based on the news
#Education #EducationNews #MEXT #DigitalTextbooks #SchoolNonAttendanceSupport #GenerativeAI #EducationDX #HighSchoolEducationReform #SchoolEducation #CareerGuidance #EducationPolicy
