We, as individuals, should strive for acquiring new skills but also bringing our inner skills out to the universe
NEW YORK: The 21st century is the century of skilled people where survival depends on the quality of personal skills. In the current era, the Darwinian ‘fittest’ needs to be skilled in order to survive and a Shavian ‘Superman’ needs to learn skills in order to be distinguished. Mastering a variety of skills can be a distinguishing mark of an individual in this era of competition, multiculturalism and globalisation.
Critical thinking, confidence, effective communication skills, teamwork and creativity are essential in order to rise up the ladder of success. Many other skills such as openness, empathy, linguistic competence, decision-making, public speaking, trustworthiness and management, come under the wider umbrella of the skills formerly mentioned. The 21st century is not a century of ‘boxes’ — people packed with information, but unable to apply it creatively and practically. In a digital era of competition, availing opportunities is a big deal; some have to avail opportunities on their own. Therefore, boxes are either thrown in dustbins or queued up. The need of the hour is to develop practically sound and useful skills as people cannot fool employers posing to possess skills they do not have. Furthermore, skills need to be developed, setting gender biases and lame excuses aside. By the way, Queen Elizabeth II is believed to be the only British monarch who can change a flat tire. Cooking, driving, speaking a new language, playing a musical instrument or playing chess, are also a few of the examples of skills that can be developed besides 21st-century skills.
I personally reject every definition of education that doesn’t make it practically useful in emotional, spiritual and intellectual domains. Obtaining a Master’s degree is insufficient if you have not developed 21st-century skills along with domestic and emotional skills, effectively. Effectiveness is the key. One reason why bridges collapse, people suffer in hospitals, candidates get rejected in interviews, machines break down, cities are not planned and well-managed and students feel shy of speaking in public, is that they have not learnt or they have not been given significant opportunities to develop and practise the relevant skills. According to a report, one incorrect decision of choosing Windows over Android gave a severe blow to Nokia. History is filled with many wrong decisions and consequent downfalls. Humanity, in general, is suffering due to poor problem-solving skills of politicians, directors and managers.
We, as individuals, should strive for professional and personal excellence by not only acquiring new skills but also bringing our inner skills out to the universe. For this purpose, self-motivation is a prerequisite. In addition, teachers should teach through task-based teaching methods, group-work and projects, so that the learners may have a hands-on experience of learning. The focus should not be on memorising, but on practically applying knowledge. We all should keep re-evaluating ourselves for the skills we have and the skills we need to develop.
Mehvish Riaz
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2016.
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