Theme deep dive · Education & Skills
Headline stat
76%
say higher-education cost limits access (2026)
Kectil Youth Speak 2025 and 2026
75%
say youth feel unprepared for the job market
72%
say quality education access is a major challenge, down from 78%
34%
say online education matches in-person, up from 31%
Three things the data shows
Concern that higher-education cost limits access eased from 81% to 76%.
Only 30% say education prepares youth for the global workforce.
33% say scholarships and financial aid are readily available, unchanged from 2025.
2025 vs 2026
Top-2-box agreement (rated 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale) for each tracked statement in this theme, sorted by largest year-over-year movement.
Cost, quality, and job-readiness remain the clearest education barriers, with modest gains in online education.
Colored cells with an arrow mark statistically significant year-over-year changes at the 95% confidence level: green-teal for favorable shifts, red for unfavorable shifts. Gray cells without an arrow are not statistically significant.
Highest 2026 signal
Higher-education cost limits access
76%
Largest YoY movement
Quality education access is a major challenge
-6 ptsFavorable
Quality education access is a major challenge
Higher-education cost limits access
Online education is as effective as in-person education
Youth feel unprepared for the job market
Vocational training is accessible and effective
Climate and sustainability are in the curriculum
Education prepares youth for the global workforce
Scholarships and financial aid are readily available
Source: Kectil Youth Speak annual comparison tables, chart 44. Thinking about education, jobs, and skills in your home country... Base sizes: 2025 n=2,252; 2026 n=2,706. Measure: % selected top-2-box, rating 4/5 on a 5-point scale. Colored background + arrow = 2025-vs-2026 difference is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level (two-proportion z-test; run only when both years have at least 35 respondents). Gray = not a statistically significant change.
2026 slide preview
These selected slide previews keep the deep dive connected to the presentation-ready Youth Speak evidence.
Slide 44
The final-deck education trend slide.
Slide 45
The 2026 regional differences view for education.
Slide 46
The year-over-year regional education comparison.
“I hope we all get equal access to opportunities to develop the human capital of my home country.”
Male, 26, Ghana
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