BEYOND THE CLASSROOM WALLS

This coming Tuesday, many schools are reopening. The quest for an education continues.  However, despite the best education one may acquire, more personal development comes from beyond the classroom walls.

Concerned about the rate at which society is churning out job seekers than job creators, I had an insightful conversation with a well-rounded researcher and academic this past week. 

This gentleman said his hypothesis was that many schools teach children to be competent in memorizing things than they teach them to understand and own what they had learnt in order to apply this knowledge in various life settings.
He went on to say having a lot of qualifications does not necessarily mean that person is very intelligent or competent in that field, but rather that person was able to study to pass the tests and exams.

component

It is his opinion and he is entitled to it. He said education is a key component of anyone’s life.
But it should be absorbed for growth not merely to pass exams or to avoid corporal punishment in schools that still practice that thing.
Entrepreneurship, which is a well-oiled engine for job creation, requires people who look beyond the classroom walls. For one to be self-employed or a businessman rather than employee you have be someone who has grasped the basic elements of life skills.

Grasped them not to pass a school exam but grasped them to apply them daily in your life.
Sadly this is not always the case, hence our economy is what it is today. While blaming the education system or the environment makes one sound knowledgeable in pessimism, it will not provide any solution. Renowned motivational speaker Vusi Thembekwayo put it like this: “We cannot use our circumstances as an excuse not to succeed.”

struggle

The pebble in my shoe, that led me to the conversation with this wise academic, was that despite some people graduating over five years ago, they still do not have economic freedom. Note, I did not say they do not have jobs.

But they still struggle to obtain their financial freedom. Financial freedom can come in more forms than just being employed.

But most conversations I have with graduates revolve around them asking me if I know of any job offerings or openings.
Let it be on record that I do not know of any. It is apparent now that the job market is not taking in any more new people. So the sooner graduates or job seekers accept that the better for all parties involved.

Living in denial delays the treatment process. It is often said that knowing what the problem is, is half the solution. So we have identified the problem, no jobs, so we are halfway to solving this matrix.

realistic

The other part of solving the problem is finding a realistic solution.
Realistic. Applying for a job where there are already people working in the position you seek is not realistic. Nor is trying to find a job with no experience and proven competence in that field. 

I gather that some schools now offer lessons on life skills. This is quite commendable than just learning about the body parts of a grasshopper.
I still have not had a chance to apply such knowledge on insects more than a decade since I finished school.
 The term ‘Life Skills’ refers to the skills you need to make the most out of life. Not only to be a good employee but also to be a great employer.

challenges

Broadly speaking, the term ‘life skills’ is usually used for any of the skills needed to deal well and effectively with the challenges of life. This is therefore should be an essential part of the curriculum.

According to my friend Google, a page called Skillsyouneed.com unpacks the topic even further. It states that in 1999, the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified six key areas of life skills.

The first being communication and interpersonal skills. This broadly describes the skills needed to get on and work with other people, and particularly to transfer and receive messages either in writing or verbally. This is my personal favourite and is often the reason many businesses fly or fold.

Another great skill is decision-making and problem-solving. This describes the skills required to understand problems, find solutions to them, alone or with others, and then take action to address them. I love the last part of that sentence, then take action to address them.

Creative thinking and critical thinking, self-awareness and empathy are also two more key skills.
And another is assertiveness and equanimity, or self-control. These describe the skills needed to stand up for yourself and other people, and remain calm even in the face of considerable provocation. Very key in this day and age.

skill

However, the researchers note that perhaps the most important life skill is the ability and willingness to learn.
“By learning new skills, we increase our understanding of the world around us and equip ourselves with the tools we need to live a more productive and fulfilling life, finding ways to cope with the challenges that life, inevitably, throws at us,” the experts state.

And agreeing with my academic friend, they state that most people associate learning with a formal education, but learning can, and should, be a lifelong process that enhances our understanding of the world and improves the quality of our life.

One hopes that as we go out to develop ourselves, we also continue to develop ourselves even beyond the classroom doors.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: