WISE, an Initiative of Qatar Foundation, Has Unveiled Its Global Education Barometer

On the occasion of the International Day of Education, WISE, an initiative of Qatar Foundation, has released an extensive study on the views of young people. Conducted by Ipsos the barometer aims to understand how the youth perceive their education and how prepared and confident they are in their future. The survey was carried out in 20 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe among 9,509 young people aged 16 to 25 years old.

The survey found that 87% of young people believe their generation has a responsibility to better the planet, but only half of those surveyed stating that they feel ready to understand big societal issues and take action in finding solutions to these issues (43%). The WISE survey reveals that youth are primarily worried about "poverty and social inequality" (17%), followed by "climate change and the environment" (19%) and "access to employment" (20%).

The survey revealed that the three main reasons for attending school, according to young people, are to expand their knowledge (89%), be ready for the future (87%), and be able to find a job (87%).

Indeed, young people really value their education with nearly 90% agreeing that education is more than learning for a career and is valuable in and of itself.

While 80% of young people claim to be satisfied with their education, there remain two major areas in which they want to see improvement in their education. First, a more individualized approach, with over 60% of youth saying they would like their teachers to give them more personal advice on their career orientation. Second, more space for 21st century skills, with less than half of young people claiming that their schooling gives too little space for new technologies and soft skills.