Understanding 21st Century Cultural changes: Confronting the 21st Century Skill Gap in Africa (II)
Last week, we examined briefly the challenge facing the African student in an ever changing world. Before I start up, it is important to note that:
• The expected budgetary allocation by developing countries for education is a minimum of 26% as prescribed by UNESCO but countries in Africa e.g. Cote D’Ivoire currently allocate 14% while Nigeria still struggles to attain 8.7% annually.
• In the 1970s and 1980s, the classroom used to be at par with the workplace. That is, academic curricula were enough to meet workplace demands. This was before the fall of the Berlin wall, but currently the workplace stands far above what the classroom offers.
• 93% of girls in the north do not have access to secondary education.
A research showed that four hundred hiring executives of major Corporations were asked “Are students graduating from school ready for work?”. The executives collectively answered – “Not Really”
The study showed that students graduating from Secondary Schools, Technical Colleges and Universities are solely lacking in some basic skills and a large number of applied skills such as;
- Oral and written Communication - Applying technology
- Critical thinking and problem - Leadership and project management
- Professionalism and work ethics
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Working in diverse teams
These reports confirm that the “21st Century Skill Gap” is costing businesses a great deal of money. Some estimate that well over $200 billion a year is spent worldwide in funding and hiring scarce, highly skilled talent, and in bringing new employees up to required skilled levels through costly training programs. As budgets tighten further in tough economic times, companies need high competent employees, ready to hit the ground running without extra training and development costs.
The competitiveness and wealth of corporation and countries is completely dependent on having a well-educated workforce. Improving a country’s literacy rate by a small amount can have huge positive economic impact.
Educating the girl child, is a major solution to most developmental problems faced by third world countries.
- United Nations.
Education and human Capital development primarily play important roles on Society’s’ evolving stage.
• It empowers us to develop or personal characters, talents and skills.
• To build stronger families, healthier societies, which add up incredibly to sustained growth and development.
• Contribute to work and fulfillment of civic responsibilities.
• Carry our moral and cultural values forward.
As much as we are critically challenged with the African Educational System and the emotional and mental well being of most students, we must kick the change we desire for the sake our future families, society, work life and economy.
African Youths (students) must rise above this current state of mediocrity around us, above what lecturers, ministers, and the world at large has called us. Please take the bull by the horn, because our generation must pay the sacrifice for change. We must grow beyond the restrictive walls of the University system, develop ourselves with the requisite skills and tool sets for change and invest aggressively in our up growth to become globally competitive.
Education starts outside the classrooms.
Let’s get back to the drawing board and change the game plan.
You will succeed!!!
Obele Gospel Jesuite is the Chief Responsibility Officer- Project Change Initiative (PCI), and a proud 21st century development economist. He can be reached at 08130070991, Gospel_obele@yahoo.com
