PETALING JAYA: Malaysia ranks third among 20 countries that provide an education system with equal opportunities for all, after Finland and China, a study found.

The World Innovation Summit for Education (Wise) Global Education Barometer study on youth perceptions on their education and their future showed that under inclusivity in the school system, 91% of Malaysian respondents agreed that their classes were made up of students with different social and cultural backgrounds.

The study was conducted across the globe between last September and October, involving 9,500 people aged between 16 and 25.

Other countries surveyed were Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, India, South Korea, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Russia.Of the 500 Malaysians surveyed, 89% were also mostly satisfied with the education they received.

The study further showed that 91% of respondents said they trusted that schools could teach students something which mattered to them and that schools had taught them to behave ethically.

The two most cited reasons for Malaysians to attend school were to expand their knowledge (63%) and to be ready for the future (61%).

A total of 56% of students also cited open-mindedness and curiosity among teachers as essential qualities a good teacher should have.

Youth optimism was high, with 86% respondents optimistic about future opportunities.Under gender equality, some 86% said all were treated equally in school.

Of the respondents who were working, 92% surveyed said their education allowed them to find a job and make money.