Ipsos Education Monitor 2026: How Thailand Views Education, Opportunity and the Future
Ipsos Education Monitor 2026 explores public attitudes towards education, technology and the prospects facing young people across 31 countries. The findings from Thailand reveal a population that generally views education positively, values higher education as a pathway to opportunity, and remains relatively optimistic about the future of younger generations, despite concerns about economic conditions.
Positive perceptions of Thailand's education system
Nearly half of Thais (49%) rate the quality of the country's education system as good, compared with a 31-country average of 33%. Meanwhile, 24% describe the education system as poor, lower than the global average of 35%.
Within APAC, perceptions vary considerably. Singapore records the highest proportion giving a positive rating to its education system (74%), followed by Australia (53%), India (51%), Thailand (49%) and Malaysia (44%). Japan (24%), Indonesia (31%) and South Korea (21%) report lower levels of satisfaction.
Economic concerns shape views of young people's challenges
When asked about the greatest challenges facing young people today, Thais are most likely to cite the economy (51%), followed by mental health challenges (37%) and poverty and inequality (37%).
Globally, mental health remains the most frequently cited concern (33%), followed by economic challenges (31%) and the effects of social media and technology (30%). Thailand differs from the global pattern, with economic concerns ranking substantially higher than the global average.
Thailand shares this focus on economic challenges with several APAC neighbours, including Indonesia, where 47% cite the economy as a major challenge, and Japan, where 40% do so.
Education remains closely linked to opportunity
The survey shows continued belief in the role of higher education as a route to career progression.
In Thailand:
- 73% agree that a university degree helps people go further in their career.
- 67% believe university degrees are good value for money.
- 73% say a degree is important for success in life.
- 61% would advise young people to attend university before entering the workforce, compared with 8% who would recommend going directly into work.
These results place Thailand above the global averages of 66% for career benefits, 53% for value for money and 57% for the importance of a degree in achieving success.
Confidence in education's role in preparing students
A majority of Thais (59%) agree that the school curriculum adequately prepares students for future careers, compared with 44% globally.
Similarly, 66% agree that the education system contributes to reducing social inequalities, compared with a global average of 49%.
These findings suggest many Thais see education as playing an important role both in workforce preparation and in creating opportunities across society.
Optimism about young people's future
Thailand reports higher levels of optimism about the future than the global average on several measures.
- 55% believe young people in Thailand have a bright future, compared with 45% globally.
- 69% believe young people will have a better life than their parents, versus 48% globally.
- 53% believe young people from poorer backgrounds have a bright future, compared with 40% globally.
At the same time, 69% agree that young people would have better opportunities if they moved abroad, above the 31-country average of 62%.
This combination of optimism alongside support for overseas opportunities is also visible across several emerging economies in Asia and Latin America.
A nuanced view of technology in education
The findings point to a distinction between attitudes towards social media and artificial intelligence.
Just 25% of Thais believe AI should be banned in schools, while 52% say it should not be banned. This is lower than the global average of 39% supporting a ban.
Views on social media are more restrictive. A majority (54%) agree that children under 14 should be banned from using social media, although this is considerably lower than the global average of 73%.
These findings mirror a broader pattern across Asia, where respondents tend to be more open to the use of AI in education while remaining cautious about the role of social media in young people's lives.
