Survey: Learners in China more confident education can adapt to pandemic

More than three out of every four learners globally said the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed education while learners in China have shown outstanding confidence and trust in their education system in adjusting to the pandemic, according to an industry survey.

Pearson, the world's learning company, on Thursday, released its the second annual Global Learner Survey, which captures the opinions and views of learners worldwide. The survey shows that learners believe it's unlikely there will be a return to the pre-COVID world of entirely full-time in-person work and learning.

As they come to terms with this new reality, learners want schools and governments to address the inequality in the learning experience, and desire digital skills they believe they will need to thrive in the new economy.

"As learners adjust to a world forever altered by a pandemic, we felt that it was more important than ever that we hear their voices. They understand that the future of work and learning is now a dynamic mix of online and in-person experiences," said John Fallon, chief executive of Pearson.

The findings include that 88 percent of learners globally said online learning will be a permanent part of primary, secondary and higher education moving forward.

About 77 percent consider the pandemic already has permanently changed the way people work, with 90 percent said people they must become more comfortable working remotely and in highly digital environments.

Eight out of 10 surveyed said the pandemic will give rise to new kinds of jobs, and nearly three out of every four say it will result in a rethinking of their career paths.

As September is approaching, 86 percent of Chinese believe universities are well prepared for reopening. About 84 percent believe that university students can still have a good experience this fall with a mix of in-person and online learning.

While globally 77 percent of people think reopening universities is vital to a healthy economy, most, especially those in Brazil, Canada, the UK and the US, are conflicted about how to do it safely.

Two-thirds of people globally said their education system did a good job adjusting to the pandemic. Learners in China have shown outstanding confidence and trust in their education system. 85 percent of Chinese learners believe their education system has done a good job adapting to the needs of students during the pandemic, and 80 percent of Chinese trust that their education system provides quality education to its entire people.