21st Century Skills
Introduction
Lifelong learning will be the basis for the skills required of 21 century; these required skills are divided into 3 categories:
i) foundation literacy (applying core skills to everyday tasks)
ii) competencies (how to handle complex challenges)
iii) character qualities (how to handle the continually changing environment)
| Foundation literacy |
Competencies |
Character qualities |
| 1. Literacy | 7. Critical thinking & problem-solving | 11. Curiosity |
| 2. Numeracy | 8. Creativity, imagination & innovation | 12. Initiative & optimism |
| 3. Scientific literacy | 9. Communications | 13. Persistence, courage & grit |
| 4. ICT literacy | 10. People handling skills | 14. Adaptability & vulnerability |
| 5. Financial literacy | 15. Leadership | |
| 6. Cultural and civil literacy | 16. Social & cultural awareness | |
| 17. Emotional intelligence |
(main source: World Economic Forum as quoted by Adolescence Success, 2022)
These skills are needed to build the capacity of people to contribute more effectively; this includes enhancing motivation and engagement; "...highlights learning deeper conceptual understanding rather than superficial facts and procedures, the importance of learning, connected and coherent knowledge, rather than knowledge compartmentalised into distinct subjects and courses, the importance of learning affecting knowledge in this context of use, rather than decontextualised classroom exercises, and the importance of learning collaboratively, rather than in isolation..."
Centre for Educational Research and Innovation as quoted by Adolescence Success, 2022
Furthermore, help people
"...thrive in a time of rapid social and technological change, and complex environmental, social and economic challenges, and to promote the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, moral, spiritual and aesthetic development and well-being..."
Education Council, 2019 as quoted by Adolescence Success, 2022