A survey conducted by Japan's Ministry of Education found that 71.7% of public elementary and junior high schools utilize fax machines as part of their daily operations, while 91.0% use traditional seals on documents. These statistics highlight the ongoing reliance on outdated technologies in schools, which runs contrary to the government’s push for digitalization as part of a broader workstyle reform. The findings indicate that while there has been a slight decrease in fax usage and document stamping compared to the previous year, schools are far from achieving the government's 2025 goal of eliminating faxes and seals altogether.

The Ministry's report reflects regional disparities in the prioritization of digital transformation, as schools across different areas adopt varying paces of modernization. The Ministry spokesperson noted that the effectiveness and necessity of digital tools are contingent upon local contexts, making it essential to evaluate situations carefully as schools transition. Moreover, while traditional methods persist predominantly in dealings with local businesses and for documents like progress reports for parents, the lack of comprehensive policy enforcement contributes to the slow pace of change.

Interestingly, the survey also uncovered that more than half of the schools reported positive effects on work efficiency by adopting certain technology solutions, such as mobile submission for absence notifications (84.2% implementation rate) and utilizing cloud platforms for parent surveys (70.5%). Nevertheless, the implementation of certain digital practices remains low, suggesting that while schools recognize potential benefits, substantial barriers to full digital adoption remain. The Ministry anticipates continued growth in these areas, encouraging schools to further leverage technology to enhance communication with parents and streamline operations.