The survey, ‘The Changing Childhood Project’ was conducted across 12 countries, including India by UNICEF and GALLUP. It was released ahead of world children’s day on November 20, 2021. It shows that 57 per cent of surveyed people aged 15 and 24 years and 45 per cent of people above 40 years in India feel that education is the biggest determinant of success.

Facts and figures revealed by the survey

• Nearly 78 per cent of women respondents above 40 years of age from India feel that education for children today is better than it was for their parents, compared to 72 per cent of older men.
• 59 per cent of girls aged between 15 and 24 years are more convinced than others that education plays a role in success.
• 67 per cent of girls feel that digital technology has helped children in education compared to 59 per cent of boys.

Survey findings from India

• The survey finds from India also show some perception gaps between younger and older respondents.
• 71 per cent of older people believe that children will be economically better off than their parents compared to 66 per cent for younger children.
• According to the report, 57 per cent of young people in India use the internet daily compared to 27 per cent of older people.
• 55 per cent of younger people in India have heard of climate change compared to 42 per cent of older people. The biggest overall gap was across 21 countries.
• The younger generation is much more likely to blame companies for climate change.
• Respondents in India have the second biggest generation gap in saying it is acceptable for 57 per cent of younger parents and 47 per cent of older parents to physically punish a child.
• India also shares the second-highest share of young people who believe it is OK for teachers to physically punish children, a practice which should normally be unacceptable.
• Respondents from both sides agree on some issues. India is the only country where the majority of young people and older people believe their country would be safer if it worked more on its own.
• India also has very low numbers of young and older people who identify with being part of the world.
• India has the second-lowest percentage of young people among 21 countries who feel they identify most with being a part of the world.
• The report said that nearly 73 per cent of young Indian respondents between 15-24 years of age believe that the quality of education has become better now than it was in the past.
• The survey also found that 65 per cent of young respondents from India believe that it is very important for politicians to listen to children’s voices.