In shaping a child’s future, the formative years are crucial. Children develop into better, stronger individuals during these years by establishing a strong foundation. It is undeniable that school education plays an important role in shaping a child’s personality. The word education usually conjures up images of academic excellence, which is undoubtedly important, but education goes beyond that. In today’s rapidly evolving world, life skills are as important as good grades. Children cannot grow into well-rounded individuals without the opportunity to nurture and enhance skill development in school.
Aside from excelling in academics, children need to develop skills that will help them enhance the physical, artistic, and emotional aspects of their lives.
Following are key factors that emphasize the importance of holistic skill development in school education at an early age:
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Creativity is enhanced:
A curriculum that includes competency-based learning encourages children’s creativity. Students are better able to grasp and learn new skills early; and when exposed to new experiences through skill development, they become more creative and imaginative. Schools need to encourage them to engage in dancing, singing, and painting, as the benefits of such activities go far beyond the acquisition of these specific skills.
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Purposeful education :
The traditional education system has trained students to evaluate themselves based on grades. However, by introducing skill-based learning early, children are prepared for the real world that lies beyond test scores. Children develop clear goals when given the opportunity to explore different facets of life. Most students don’t know what career path to take even after they complete their education. This is because they never had the chance to identify their true passions and talents, and focused on memorizing concepts without applying them in real life. Developing skills during schooling will help children figure out their strengths and weaknesses very early in life. They’ll learn with a clear goal, instead of just focusing on passing exams and getting good grades in the short term.
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Promotes independent thinking :
Students become confident and independent when they have multiple learning opportunities. Applying concepts in the real world leads to independence, not memorizing vast amounts of information. Skills-based curriculums encourage kids to think deeper and solve problems independently. As they are taught to think critically and analytically from an early age, they develop high self-esteem. Learning life skills naturally makes them independent thinkers and instills vital leadership skills that will help them succeed in whatever profession they choose.
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Gracefully accepting failures :
Instilling emotional maturity in pupils is achieved through skill development and training. To learn new skills, students must be willing to experiment. In the process, they may experience failures and disappointments, but this will eventually prepare them to accept failures gracefully and develop a ‘never give up’ attitude. Students will develop a growth mindset as they try new things, fail, and persevere. Not being afraid to fail is important to succeed in life, and children learn this important life lesson at a young age.
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Contributing to a skilled workforce of the future :
Teaching skills in schools at an early age can have a positive long-term impact on the country’s overall workforce structure. Through holistic education, students develop easily employable skills. With the latest technology that enables audio-visual learning, interactive and smart classrooms, our students have a better chance of becoming more competent. Incorporating skill development into the curriculum early on simplifies the transition from student to career, and as icing on the cake, the country will have a better workforce in the future.
Skills development as part of schooling is indeed important to build a strong foundation for a successful future. Self-awareness, excellent communication skills, problem solving, and critical thinking are some of the important benefits of learning through a well-rounded curriculum. Children excel effortlessly in several areas of their lives, and this gives them the opportunity to stand out among their peers. Developing skills at an early age helps children choose from a wide range of career options by the time they enter their teens. It sharpens students’ minds to become more independent, culturally aware, and self-confident, and contributes to the growth of the child as well as society and the nation as a whole.
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