Innovative, more inclusive and connected to reality: this is the ideal school according to the Webboh Lab survey
The younger generation would like an educational institution that prepares them more for life and work (80%) and allows them to express their opinions (8.5/10)
A few days before the start of the second quarter, Webboh Lab, the first permanent observatory on Gen Z resulting from Webboh’s partnership with the Sylla research institute, has analyzed the responses of more than 38,000 elementary, middle and high school students who were asked to share their opinions, perceptions and expectations about school.
The results, partly collected through the involvement of Studenti.it users, led to the report “La scuola che vorrei”, a detailed look at the school system through the eyes of the younger generation. Their goal is to have a school that is more inclusive and helpful in dealing with the challenges of everyday life.
Vision of the ideal school:
Students were asked to describe how they imagine the perfect school environment:
- inclusive and respectful, where everyone has an equal chance to learn (9/10);
- with beautiful and welcoming spaces, helping those with problems or difficulties (8/10);
- more connected to reality, with useful lessons for daily life (7/10);
- innovation-oriented, with the use of technology to make lessons interactive and engaging (5/10);
- a place where students can voice their opinions, work together in groups, and engage in creative and fun activities (5/10).
Perception of the school
The main problems highlighted by the report concern the perception of a not very innovative school environment that lacks adequate preparation for real life and work, placing great emphasis on mental health. In detail:
- 80% think that school does not teach topics that are useful for life;
- 80% find their backpack too heavy;
- 67% experience anxiety about going to school;
- 67% believe that schools do not care about pupils’ mental health;
- 67% spend entire days studying;
- 68% are fairly or very happy with the level of teaching they receive;
- for 49%, teachers are not sufficiently understanding and do not care enough about whether a subject is understood;
- 49% of children found situations of neglect at school. Indeed, many of them do not trust the solidity of the structures and as many as 50% of the children believe there is a potential risk of the facility collapsing.
It emerged, in general, that students do not feel valued, welcomed and supported at school: “It is a place where I feel valued” received only 4.3 out of 10 and “It is a place where I feel welcomed and supported” 4.5 out of 10. In addition, the concept “Bullying is addressed and effectively managed” received 5.2 out of 10, a result that leads one to think that the educational institution is unable to deal with and manage bullying.
Identified clusters:
The Webboh Lab team identified 5 profiles that identify students based on their responses to the questionnaire:
- Vision and Motivation (34%): this is the group that identifies students who see school as practical preparation for the future and work, and who prefer a traditional approach.
- Practicality and Inclusiveness (30%): concerns children focused on professional preparation and collaborative learning in a stimulating environment.
- Ambition and Pragmatism (14%): they value competition and rewards, with a focus on individual growth.
- Creativity and Relaxation (13%): this is the cluster where creative freedom and a relaxed environment with less homework and more artistic activities are valued.
- Tradition and Freedom (8%): where students prefer a classical educational approach, without excessive emphasis on technology or creativity.
You can view the full research here.
Webboh is the flagship media for GenZ. Created in April 2019, it has been part of Mondadori Media since February 2023. It currently has a fanbase of 4.5 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, 70% of which are under 24. The website receives 3 million unique monthly users (source: Audiweb last quarter 2024). It is in the top ten most influential Italian media companies on social media, as well as the first targeting Gen Z for engagement and video views (source: Italian Top Media Rankings for First Communication made by Sensemakers). The topicality, authenticity and interest generated by the content is guaranteed by a bottom-up editorial model: the community is involved in every part of the creative process.
Webboh Lab, a partnership between Webboh and the Sylla research institute, with Scientific Director Professor Furio Camillo, is the first Permanent Observatory on Gen Z. Webboh Lab’s commitment is to gather the voice of the younger generation and investigate and explore issues to convey them to those who make decisions for them, the adults of tomorrow.