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We need to learn skills for life, not just passing exams, say teenagers
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent30 Dec 2008
TEENAGERS say they are failing to learn the skills they need for work because education is dominated by exams.
A groundbreaking report warns that teachers have no incentive to train pupils in the communication and team-working skills that employers value.
The investigation, produced by a panel of young people and passed to the Prime Minister, states: "Many of us do not feel fully prepared for life in the adult world."
It comes amid growing concern from business leaders that young recruits are turning up unprepared for work. Academics have warned that many schools focus on teaching children what they need to know to pass tests and meet government exam targets, rather than providing a rounded education.
The final year of primary education is now dominated by preparation for Sats, while new modular GCSE and A-level courses involve exams every year. The 24-page Young Citizens' Action Agenda was drawn up after a conference in London in the summer supported by the Evening Standard. It has been delivered to Downing Street.
More than 1,000 teenagers countrywide took part in a survey which formed the basis of the study, organised by the Institute for Citizenship.
The report said teenagers knew they needed "team-work, inquiry and communication skills" to find good jobs after they leave school or college.
But it concluded: "We currently fear that our schools are not seeking to teach us information or skills that will not be tested for, despite their critical importance to our future.
"In our opinion, there is no incentive for teachers or students to build information and knowledge that is relevant for successful living if it is not in the curriculum. The teaching of skills for life and employment is not seen as a serious target in our schools."
The study recommended Ofsted inspectors should take a more active interest in whether schools impart these life skills, and businesses should send more speakers into classes to talk to pupils and provide careers advice.
Employers have complained that even university graduates are starting work unable to communicate clearly and with little concept of punctuality or appropriate dress.
The Association of Graduate Recruiters said the crucial qualities that new recruits needed were "project management, team working and communication skills".
The survey also found that many young people were concerned about their safety. Nearly half - 44 per cent - said they did not feel safe from people of their own age group some of the time. They also understood that many adults had a negative perception of young people, and barriers between the generations needed to be overcome.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said the new secondary curriculum would give pupils crucial skills for life and work.
A DCSF spokeswoman said: "The new curriculum will enable schools to prepare pupils for the demands of today's world.
"In a rapidly changing world, we need a curriculum which evolves to provide teenagers with the up-to-date knowledge they will need to succeed. Every child should have a good grasp of grammar, spelling and arithmetic.
"They should also have wider skills that, increasingly, employers and universities demand, such as the ability to express themselves and think clearly, and have a dynamic can-do attitude."
Reader views (10)
I left school in 1971 and started as a apprentice in a factory at the age of 16. before I left school I knew what a spanner was, hacksaw, chisels, planes,hammers, the list is endless and knew how to put together things and in my childhood made many model kits, had lego, and a bicycle which I used to take to bits and repair if needed.I watched my Mother bake all types of foods and learnt from her, and even though I say it myself I am now a good cook and cook for my family regular and passing on my skills to my children.
Although this computer on which I am writing this letter is a fantastic tool of this age we still need life skills in making and building things, computers help but they can't get up and do it?.
My Son says often how do they do that Dad?.
I sit down and explain things to him and give him guide lines to work to so he to can learn.
Schools should do more training in life skills, some youths today cannot boil an egg, but computer games, well they can lose and find me?.
Happy New Year.
- John.L., Scarborough N.Yks U.K., 02/01/2009 09:11
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Teenagers (and pre-teens) don't seem to even speak to each other anymore. They are all listening to their own music and not interacting, apart from the sad ones who have an earpiece each from a joint MP3 player.
- Martin H Watson, Teddington, 31/12/2008 15:25
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Sorry just don't understand why things are different now compared with the 80's when i went to school. Sounds more like the Gen Z's just want everyhting on a plate.
Mark, no team sports as the council's have sold off all the playing fields! Also sports have to have winners and that alienates the less able and so can no longer be part of education...
- Chaz, Perth, Australia, 31/12/2008 01:50
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Of course children need to learn life skills, but not necessarily at school. How? - by being encouraged to get involved in Cubs, Scouts, Guides, St John Ambulance, Red Cross, sports clubs etc etc. In the UK I was involved in Beaver Scouts for 12 years and we turned away many children as we were oversubscribed. With more adult volunteers we could have started more groups and filled them. So if you think that kids hanging around doing nothing or just watching endless hours of TV is a problem, perhaps you are the answer! And if you're an employer encourage your staff to, and if they are, do understand that on (say) Thursdays they need to finish on time, whatever the work situation.
- Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia, 30/12/2008 22:56
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Parents teach their kids life skills, schools teach them calculus. Well, that's how its supposed to work anyway...
- Trunk, US, 30/12/2008 17:30
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Even teenagers know that Nu Labor was wrong on education as well. Another shame on Crash Gordon!!"
Oh so blue Jacqueline of Hampstead, bless you. Your repeated posts are getting rather tedious, don't you think? Apparently everything from Woolies to knives to Gaza the cold weather is Gordon brown's fault. How sad is that
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 30/12/2008 15:16
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In this whole debate the role of parents is always excluded. Surely you learn quite a lot about what is appropriate from them? Also team sports should be teaching them team-building and social skills. These were all totally natural things until now. Maybe if we returned to a culture of teaching and not just 'facilitating'....
- Mark, London, 30/12/2008 13:03
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Even teenagers know that Nu Labor was wrong on education as well. Another shame on Crash Gordon!!
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 30/12/2008 12:52
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Surely that should read:
"WE NEED 2 LEARN SKLLS FR LF NT JST PSSNG EXMS" say teenagers?
- Bob, Cheam, 30/12/2008 12:39
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For generations there have been children who have done exams, gone on to University and done great things. There have been others not academically gifted who would have traditionally been taught manual skills and had succesful careers in crafts and trades.
However the one size fits all mentality of current education has determined that everyone should do exams so that the less academic now achieve a worthless certificate in an irrelevant subject and lack the craft skills for a successful alternative career.
Surely if all these tests that it is claimed that the state education system is preparing pupils for were tests of skills required in life and careers, there would be no conflict of interest between be educated for the tests and life skills?
- Tom, Watford (UK), 30/12/2008 12:16
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