Why do Malaysian schoolchildren still carry heavy physical textbooks?

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Malaysian schoolchildren still carry heavy physical textbooks because DELIMa has been positioned as an optional add-on rather than a full replacement in national schools.

In Malaysian national schools, pupils from Standard 1 onward are required to bring a large number of physical textbooks to school, which means they still carry heavy school bags almost every day. The main government digital textbook initiative, DELIMa (Digital Education Learning Initiative Malaysia), provides access to hundreds of digital textbooks and other learning resources, but it is described as supplementary or optional for most primary and secondary schools. As a result, students continue to lug physical books alongside whatever digital materials are available through the portal.
DELIMa offers digital textbooks, but it is not mandatory for most schools
DELIMa is the Ministry of Education’s main digital learning portal for textbooks and learning materials, including interactive modules, videos, and tools from partners such as Google, Microsoft, and Apple. However, it is characterised as supplementary or optional for most primary and secondary schools rather than a system that replaces the need for physical textbooks. That structure keeps physical books in daily use, even when digital content is accessible.
National schools still require physical books from Standard 1
The heavy load described for national schools starts with very young pupils, including those as early as Standard 1, who must bring many textbooks to school. The practical outcome is that students continue to carry backpack-like bags frequently, rather than relying on e-textbooks alone. This requirement explains why the “backpack” remains a common daily sight despite the presence of a digital textbook portal.
Earlier digital learning efforts did not fully eliminate printed textbooks
DELIMa is noted as being rebranded from earlier Ministry of Education digital learning efforts after Frog VLE, indicating that digital learning initiatives have been evolving for some time. Even with this progression, the current setup still leaves physical textbooks as part of everyday schooling for most students in national schools. The continued presence of printed books suggests that earlier digital efforts did not translate into a complete nationwide switch.
Physical textbooks remain in place despite concerns about printing and waste
The discussion highlights that physical textbooks are repeatedly printed, then discarded after examinations, creating significant wastage. Against that backdrop, some private schools have already moved away from physical textbooks, while the question remains why public national schools have not followed the same path. In the current system, DELIMa’s optional role and the ongoing requirement to carry printed books together explain why students still carry heavy textbooks.

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Why do Malaysian schoolchildren still carry heavy physical textbooks?

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