Are we truly preparing children for the adulthood they will inherit, or only for the world we remember? This question sits at the heart of today’s educational debate — and the answer is not simple.

Modern education still succeeds at teaching knowledge and foundational skills. But adulthood today demands far more: adaptability, emotional intelligence, digital literacy, creativity, cultural understanding, and resilience. These are not always embedded deeply in traditional classrooms.

Children are growing up in a world shaped by rapid technological change, shifting identities, climate challenges, and unpredictable job markets. Yet many systems continue to prepare them for a stable, predictable adulthood that no longer exists.

At the same time, the social and emotional landscape for children is changing. Rising anxiety, social disconnection, and screen immersion make it harder for young people to build the inner foundations that adulthood requires — confidence, empathy, purpose, and community.

Does that mean education is failing? Not entirely. Innovations around the world, holistic frameworks, play-based learning, culturally grounded approaches, and digital–human balance models show what’s possible. These new pathways point toward an adulthood that is not only skilled, but also wise, compassionate, and adaptable.

So, are we guiding children toward the “right” adulthood?

We are trying. But to truly succeed, education must evolve as quickly as the world our children are stepping into.