4.1 Parents’ hopes
Almost two-thirds (64%) of parents in the 2018 Varkey Foundation survey believe their child’s school is preparing them well for the world of 2030 and beyond. Asia has some of the highest levels of confidence (India, Indonesia, China and Vietnam), and some of the lowest levels of confidence (Japan and South Korea).
Almost two-thirds (60%) of parents are optimistic about their child’s future. Some of the highest levels of optimism were in lower income economies. Richer nations (such as Japan, France, South Korea and Germany) were generally gloomier.
Children’s happiness is the most important thing to parents, according to the global survey, with 43% of parents worldwide selecting this as one of the top three factors that cause them the most anxiety about their child at school. This is closely followed by concerns of mental wellbeing and bullying. According to the global survey, when parents choose a primary school for their children the most important factor in their decision is the distance of the school from home. The next two most important factors for parents in choosing a primary school are the quality of teachers and whether the school has a happy environment.