Three-quarters of Europeans believe that general education enjoys a more positive image than vocational education and training.

Omissions

• The figure comes from a perception question ('in your country, general education at upper secondary level has a more positive image than IVET'), not from an objective measurement of the standing of the two education tracks.
• The same Eurobarometer survey contains strongly positive findings about VET that the speaker did not mention: 85% of Europeans agree that VET provides the technical skills relevant for jobs, 82% believe VET leads to real job opportunities and 79% recognise something positive about VET — context that qualifies the 'image gap' narrative.
• The survey data refer to fieldwork carried out in the first half of 2026, published in July 2026, i.e. before the session date of 20 October 2026, so the MEP could have known it.

Sources

• PrimaryEUR-Lex — Communication COM(2026) 363 final (European Commission)"... education, 75% agreed with the statement that in their country, general education at upper secondary level has a more positive image than IVET."
• PrimarySpecial Eurobarometer 569 — Attractiveness of vocational education and training (survey report, July 2026)Survey question reported in the report: "In your country general education has a more positive image than vocational education" (Special Eurobarometer 569, attractiveness of vocational education and training).
• PrimaryEurobarometer survey page — Attractiveness of Vocational Education and Training (July 2026)"The new Eurobarometer survey reveals that 85% of Europeans agree that vocational education and training provides technical skills relevant for jobs."
• SecondaryEuronews — Education: How do Europeans feel about vocational training?"Three-quarters of EU citizens believe that general education at an upper secondary level has a more positive image than vocational training"