The Liberal Initiative (IL) has submitted legislation to the Azorean Parliament to ensure that students continue to have free access to printed school textbooks if families choose them over digital editions.
The proposal, presented by regional deputy Nuno Barata and submitted under an urgent procedure for debate during next week’s parliamentary session, seeks to amend the regional legislation governing the school textbook loan system, which has been in place since 2012.
According to IL, the initiative is intended to protect families’ freedom to choose between digital and printed textbooks without losing access to the gratuity currently guaranteed under the regional program.
The proposal comes in response to the growing implementation of digital textbooks in Azorean schools and to what the party describes as a restrictive interpretation of existing legislation by the Regional Government. Under that interpretation, the availability of digital educational resources is considered sufficient to meet the requirements of the textbook support system, meaning that parents who wish to obtain printed textbooks may have to bear the additional cost themselves.
For the Liberal Initiative, such an approach runs contrary to both the spirit and intent of the textbook loan program created more than a decade ago.
“The principle is simple,” said Nuno Barata. “Parents should be able to decide which educational tools are most appropriate for their children without being financially penalized for that choice.”
The deputy argued that technological innovation should be viewed as an opportunity rather than an obligation.
“Digital textbooks can be a useful educational tool,” he said, “but they cannot become a hidden form of compulsion. The modernization of education is achieved by expanding choices, not by removing them.”
Under the proposed legislation, schools would be required to provide textbooks either in printed or digital format according to the preference formally expressed by parents or guardians. In both cases, access would remain free of charge.
IL maintains that the principle of free textbooks should apply regardless of format and that public policy should guarantee equal access rather than promote a single pedagogical model.
The party also points to growing concerns expressed by parents, educators, and specialists regarding the exclusive use of digital platforms in education. According to Nuno Barata, questions have increasingly been raised about the effects of prolonged screen exposure on learning, concentration, reading habits, and study practices among students.
“The Government should not decide that all students must learn exclusively through a screen,” the deputy stated. “That decision should belong to families and educational professionals.”
The proposed amendment seeks to ensure that the introduction of digital learning tools does not eliminate traditional options that many families and educators continue to value. Supporters argue that preserving both formats offers greater flexibility and accommodates different learning styles, educational needs, and household preferences.
The initiative will now be considered by the Azorean Legislative Assembly, where lawmakers will debate whether the region’s textbook support system should explicitly guarantee free access to both printed and digital materials, leaving the final choice in the hands of families.
Adapted and translated from a story in Diário Insular, José Lourenço, director.
