Education isn’t just about textbooks and exams. It reflects our society’s priorities, challenges, and future aspirations. The latest Ipsos study across 30 countries, sheds light on how people globally view the state of education, what worries them most for young people, and how technology is reshaping the classroom.
Mixed Views on Quality
Globally, only one in three people (34%) think their country’s education system is good, while 35% say it’s poor. Expectations for the future also vary: in countries with lower fertility rates, many anticipate shrinking student populations over the next five years.
Mental Health Takes Center Stage
Mental health is now seen as the number one challenge facing young people. Across all generations, concerns about anxiety, depression, and stress outpace worries about the economy or even bullying. More than half (53%) say the mental health of young people in their country is “poor.”
Technology: Help or Hindrance?
Seven in ten people worldwide support banning social media for children under 14, both inside and outside of school. At the same time, debates continue about whether smartphones and AI should be welcomed in classrooms or kept out to preserve focus and wellbeing.
Favourite and Least Favourite Subjects
Across the globe, history, maths, and science stand out as favourite subjects, but they’re also among those most disliked by different age groups. Interestingly, the gender gap in subject preferences is closing, especially for STEM subjects like maths and science, where younger generations show almost no difference between men and women.
The Path Ahead
There is no one-size-fits-all challenge. Some countries worry about outdated curricula, others about unequal access or lack of funding. What’s clear is that the world is rethinking not just what students learn, but how schools can prepare them for an uncertain future.
(Source: Ipsos study conducted June 20 - July 4, 2025, on 23,700 adults in 30 countries globally)
Read article : Majorities in all countries now support banning under-14s from using social media
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