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Jonna Kangas, adjunct prof astatine the University of Helsinki, Finland, has called for improvement of transversal competencies specified arsenic captious thinking, collaboration, and liable investigation of accusation among young learners that hole them for enactment and for antiauthoritarian information and lifelong adaptability, thereby helping them go liable members of society.
Prof. Kangas was speaking connected ‘Transforming Education and Skills’ arsenic portion of the ‘Vision 2031’ planetary league connected improvement and ideology successful Thiruvananthapuram connected Monday (February 16, 2026).
These transversal competencies were not conscionable accusation to memorise oregon know, but besides tools for however to interact with each other, however to dainty and attraction for environment, and however to program the future, Prof. Kangas said.
Development and transportation of competencies began with teachers, Prof. Kangas said. Teachers modelled however students thought, collaborate, question, occupation solve, and usage integer tools responsibly, she reminded. When teachers developed transversal competencies, practised reflective thinking, engaged successful collaborations, exercised nonrecreational judgment, and embraced lifelong learning, these became portion of school’s learning culture, she pointed out.
Challenges
A.K. Shiva Kumar, erstwhile manager of the International Centre for Human Development, UNICEF, cautioned that Kerala’s schoolhouse acquisition system, erstwhile a planetary exemplar of literacy, sex parity and cosmopolitan enrolment, present faced emerging challenges arsenic the State confronted rising younker unemployment and a rapidly changing labour market. Dr. Kumar said the State’s archetypal acquisition transition, which emphasised entree and inclusion, had delivered bonzer societal and economical gains. Investments successful cosmopolitan schooling, women’s empowerment and kid wellness created a virtuous rhythm of learning, productivity and societal progress. However, the strategy was designed for a 20th-century satellite of unchangeable occupations and linear vocation paths. “Today, artificial intelligence, automation and platform-based economies are transforming the quality of work. This has near galore regular cognitive and manual tasks susceptible portion elevating the value of creativity, judgement and adaptability,” helium said.
He pointed retired that Kerala’s situation was nary longer astir inclusion alone, but besides astir prime and relevance. Highlighting the stark labour marketplace reality, helium said astir 30% of younker aged 15 to 29 were unemployed (according to authoritative statistic successful 2023-24), compared to the nationalist mean of 10%. The unemployment complaint among young women stood astatine 47%, portion it was 19% successful the lawsuit of men. The nationalist averages successful these parameters were 11% and 9% respectively.
The mismatch reflected a deeper systemic contented of schools producing qualifications that nary longer aligned with the evolving economy. Under specified circumstances, helium called for reforms that moved acquisition beyond rote learning to absorption connected capabilities specified arsenic captious thinking, ethical judgement and vocation adaptability. Schools should hole students for non-linear careers successful sectors, including integer services, greenish jobs, wellness attraction and tourism, helium said.
Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty and Minister for Higher Education R. Bindu; Sonajharia Minz, prof astatine Jawaharlal Nehru University; Rajan Gurukkal, vice-chairman, Kerala State Higher Education Council; Gopinath Ravindran, erstwhile Vice-Chancellor, Kannur University; and C. Ramakrishnan, coordinator of the State government’s Vidyakiranam project; spoke.
