Education in focus 4: 21st century skills

Preparing young people for the workplace they will find when finishing their education has, for some time now, cast a spotlight on what are often called 21st century skills. Interviewees in this episode explore why these skills are so important in South Asia, as well as some essential considerations when aiming to incorporate them into education programmes. This topic is discussed by Tara Béteille, Senior Economist at the World Bank, Shankar Adhikari, Curriculum Officer, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Government of Nepal, and Dr Akanksha Bapna, Founder and CEO, Evaldesign.

The episode includes discussion of the following research and initiatives:

• Ready to learn. Ready to thrive. Before school, in school and beyond school in South Asia (World Bank 2019)
• Enhancing youth employability: What? Why? and How? Guide to core work skills (International Labour Organisation 2013)  
• Partners in life skills education: Conclusions from a United Nations inter-agency meeting (World Health Organization 1999)
• Framework for 21st century learning (Partnership for 21st Century Skills 2009)
• OECD Learning Compass framework
• Handbook on measuring 21st century skills