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Only one in three Austrians supports banning artificial intelligence applications such as ChatGPT in schools, while smartphones and social media face considerably stronger opposition, according to the latest Ipsos Global Education Monitor.
The survey found that 34 percent of Austrians would support a ban on AI applications in schools, while 48 percent opposed such a measure. Internationally, support for an AI ban was slightly higher, at 39 percent.
Majority backs smartphone ban
The picture changes significantly when it comes to smartphones. Sixty-two percent of Austrians support banning smartphones in schools, slightly above the international average of 57 percent.
There is also a pronounced generational divide. Only 36 percent of Generation Z respondents supported a smartphone ban, compared with around 69 percent among baby boomers.
Social media attracted even stronger opposition. Seventy-two percent of Austrians said children under the age of 14 should not have access to social media services. Globally, support for such restrictions was slightly higher, at 73 percent.
Germany was the only country surveyed where a majority did not support a social media ban, with 48 percent in favour.
Austrians more satisfied with education system than Germans
Overall satisfaction with Austria’s education system remains limited, but Austrians nevertheless gave it a more positive assessment than respondents in Germany.
Around 36 percent of Austrians said they were satisfied with their country’s school system, compared with just 17 percent in Germany. The international average was 33 percent.
At the same time, 28 percent of Austrians gave the education system a negative assessment. In Germany, the figure was significantly higher at 52 percent.
“Austria does not give its education system top marks, but compared with other European countries, it performs significantly better than Germany. However, there can be no talk of genuine satisfaction here either,” said Alexander Zeh, an Ipsos Austria study author.
Equal opportunities and career preparation remain weak points
The survey also highlighted concerns about equal opportunities in education. Fifty-five percent of Austrians said education does not help reduce social inequality, compared with 49 percent internationally.
There were also doubts about whether schools adequately prepare young people for their professional futures. Only 33 percent of respondents considered Austria’s curriculum sufficiently future-oriented, compared with 44 percent internationally. Nearly half, or 49 percent, saw shortcomings in this area.
Generational differences were again evident. Older generations tended to focus more on integration and structural issues, while younger people were more concerned about whether the education system is equipped for the future.
Among Generation Z respondents, 49 percent identified an outdated curriculum as a major challenge, while 33 percent pointed to the difficulties of dealing with generative AI in the classroom.
“The younger generation is much more focused on the future viability of the education system. The curriculum and the way new technologies are handled are much more prominent concerns for them,” Zeh said.
University no longer the obvious choice
Although 69 percent of Austrians believe a university degree helps people advance professionally, fewer respondents would recommend higher education to young adults than a direct entry into the workforce.
Some 36 percent would recommend starting work directly, while only 24 percent would advise young people to pursue university studies.
Internationally, the trend is reversed. Across the countries surveyed, an average of 49 percent would recommend university as the first step, compared with just 16 percent who would favour entering the workforce directly.
The findings suggest that Austrians are increasingly questioning traditional assumptions about education, while at the same time showing a relatively cautious attitude toward restricting new technologies such as artificial intelligence in schools.
- source: APA/picture:
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