Australia's education industry is undergoing a significant shift, shaped by policy change, cost-of-living pressure, and the acceleration of digitisation. These three players are all exposed to one or more of these factors in different ways. So, are they worth a look?
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Janison Education Group Ltd (ASX: JAN)
Janison is a provider of online assessment platforms and digital exams, including the national standardised NAPLAN and competitive ICAS tests. It also delivers the NSW Selective High School and Opportunity Class placement tests on a 5-year state government contract, secured in 2024.
It's a small-cap stock trading around $0.21. In December, it attracted some investor interest, hitting a 12-month high, on the back of announcing a significant contract with the NZ Ministry of Education. The 5-year deal will see Janison deliver New Zealand's new SMART online assessment tool to schools, at a value of $21 million.
In FY25, it did not reach profitability. However, it reported some positive indicators, including:
- 9% revenue growth over the prior corresponding period to $46.8 million
- Solid balance sheet with $11 million cash on hand and a 44% increase in operational cash flow
- EBIT improvement from $10.6 million loss to $7 million loss
The assessment market remains ripe for digitisation, and Janison has a track record of securing major contracts in the space. Based on its 2025 results, it's a bit of a speculative play right now. That said, I think it has real potential for growth in 2026, so it's going on my watchlist.
G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM)
G8 is Australia's largest provider of childcare, running over 400 centres nationwide. Amidst challenging conditions for the sector, the company has been rolling out its 'network optimisation' strategy, which includes divesting underperforming centres, to improve operational efficiency and financial performance.
While its centres have seen an uptick in quality, with 96% of assessed centres meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard as at HY25, occupancy rates have continued a downward trend.
In HY25, centre occupancy rates declined 3.7 percentage points on the prior corresponding period, most likely driven by cost-of-living pressures. In addition, expectations of a seasonal occupancy uplift in October 2025 were not realised.
On 10 February 2026, the company released an announcement regarding a goodwill non-cash impairment of $350 million to be recognised in its full-year results, as well as the suspension of its final dividend for the year. In the same announcement, G8 reported that EBIT guidance for CY25 has not changed, suggesting management believes fundamental operations remain steady.
Its share price tumbled in the ensuing week, falling from $0.63 on 9 February to $0.48 on 16 February. It will be interesting to see what it reports in its full-year results, to be announced next Monday.
As it stands, this one is a little too risky for me. But if you're comfortable with a turnaround play and believe it can withstand significant headwinds, it may be cheap right now.
IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)
IDP Education is a leader in the international student market and co-owner and official provider of the IELTS English proficiency test.
IDP also delivers a range of international student services, from course advice to visa and accommodation support, to help students secure educational opportunities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA.
In FY25, IDP reported revenue of $888.2 million, a 14% year-on-year decline and a 29% decrease in student placements, likely driven by the tightening of policy in key markets, Australia and Canada.
The Australian Government initially proposed a hard international student cap of 270,000 for 2025, seeking to cut numbers by some 16% on 2023 figures. This was later replaced with a soft cap system, whereby educational institutions face penalties if they exceed allocations.
In Canada, the government plans to issue 408,000 study permits in 2026, with only 155,000 for newly arriving international students and the remainder for current and returning students. This represents a 7% drop from 2025 and a 16% drop from 2024.
Investors have naturally been cautious in this landscape, and IDP's share price has fallen some 60% in the past year. But IDP has shown operational resilience and disciplined cost management in challenging conditions.
It has a solid multi-year strategic transformation plan in progress, and I think this is a business that can bounce back. If you're comfortable with the prospect of continuing short-term volatility, I believe current prices present an attractive opportunity to invest in a quality business.
